SAFE

Empower emergency workers with life-saving autism training.

THE SAFE SOLUTION

SAFE (Strengthening Autism First Engagement) is a bold new initiative by A Global Voice for Autism. Our mission is to transform emergency response systems into safe, inclusive environments for autistic children worldwide. Through global online training, we equip first responders and humanitarian workers with the knowledge and empathy needed to communicate effectively and compassionately during crises.

Our Why

The Global Voice for Autism community tragically lost 22 community members, including 17 children, in the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

The Challenge

People with disabilities (PWDs) make up 16% of the global population.

Historically, fatalities for people with disabilities in disaster contexts are 2-4x higher than the general population:

Hurricane Katrina (2005): 70% of disaster-linked deaths were PWDs

Fukushima Earthquake (2011): ~25% of disaster-linked deaths were PWDs

Higher risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse + face greater barriers to access basic services (UN Refugee Agency)

Realities for children with ASD during crisis

Lack of access to medications and safe food
Overwhelming group shelter environments/people in tents and outdoors
Autistic children running away and lost (lack of safe, contained living spaces)
Stigma has led to challenges reuniting children with disabilities with families
Routines replaced by chaos, parent and child trauma, school/center closures
Medical treatment of children with disabilities extremely difficult due to sensory/communication issues

Global recognition
of the need

Our SAFE project fully aligns with Action Area #10 from WHO/UNICEF Global Report on children with developmental disabilities 2023

“Develop inclusive plans and protocols for health emergency preparedness and response. Children with developmental disabilities require specific attention and tailored strategies in emergency preparedness and response frameworks to avoid unnecessary distress, delays in access to information and support, and

discrimination.”

Our SAFE response

Developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, psychologists, certified behavior analysts, and autism specialists, SAFE is a comprehensive, evidence-based training platform designed to promote understanding, compassion, and life-saving action among the first responders, humanitarian workers and community.