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Bama Hager’s 14-year-old son enjoys movies, computer games, music and jumping on the trampoline. He also has autism and is in school at Mountain Brook Junior High, but Hager expects that he will never be fully independent. His diagnosis comes with a lot of worries for Hager: his education, day-to-day welfare and long-term care, to name a few.
“My husband’s and my greatest fear is the same fear of every autism spectrum parent,” Hager said. “‘What will happen when I am not there to help him?’”
As the policy and program director at the Autism Society of Alabama, Hager works to make these worries a little easier for parents like her. The ASA’s most recent successful campaign was the introduction of state-issued identification cards for people with autism. The Alabama legislature’s Act 2014-344, which governs the use and eligibility of these cards, went into effect on Jan. 1.
People with autism spectrum disorders can apply for the cards with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The cards have an explanation of autism’s effects and a place for emergency contact information. Hager said she believes these cards could be crucial for drivers with autism in interacting with police or other first responders.
Communication issues and delays in processing language are central to autism, and stressful or fearful situations can exacerbate these problems. Hager said that during a traffic stop, a police officer might interpret the behavior of a person with autism as noncompliant, flustered or even resistant, when in reality the person is struggling to handle the situation.
“Many interactions with first responders will often occur during events that might provoke frustration, fear and anxiety,” Hager said. “That experience is often heightened for those on the spectrum. In other words, a teen or adult with autism may function very effectively and independently in the community. When faced with a stressful event, the same teen or adult may have a very difficult time communicating their thoughts and feelings.”
Hager said that for some individuals, these high-stress situations can produce behaviors similar to people under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. She met a man through the ASA who has never had an alcoholic drink but has had a sobriety test every time he’s pulled over because of his reaction to anxiety.
With the introduction of these cards, drivers with autism can keep the cards next to their licenses and hand them both to police if they’re pulled over. This would help officers understand how to interact and be patient with the driver. A sample card on the ASA website says, in part, “I may have difficulty understanding your directions, and I may not be able to respond to your questions. I may also become physically agitated if you touch me... Please do not interpret my behavior as refusal to cooperate.”
The card will be equally useful in other emergency situations, such as dealing with firefighters and paramedics.
Remy Cron, a 12-year-old with high-functioning autism, will be getting a card. His mother, Tracy, said her son is in accelerated math classes and plays soccer, but his autism only becomes apparent in social situations. The Brookwood Forest student does not understand social cues about personal space, which Cron said could be misinterpreted as awkward or even threatening to strangers.
“I think the card is something that will help with tolerance and understanding, especially for these quirky behaviors,” Cron said.
She also hopes Remy can get a driver’s license in the future, when the card will again become useful in giving her peace of mind and her son more independence.
“I think it’s going to give him a lot of freedom,” Cron said. “Without it I’d imagine he’d have to have supervision at all times.”
The creation of these cards was truly a grassroots effort, Hager said. Parents and other advocates in Huntsville and Decatur began encouraging a special note on drivers’ licenses for people with autism. Because of health confidentiality reasons, this idea was changed into the optional identification cards. The ASA and parents across the state got involved in the effort, as did 3rd District Senator Arthur Orr, and the bill was enacted into law during the spring 2014 legislative session.
“People all over the state of Alabama are saying ‘Yes, this is something we like,’” Hager said. “That’s a really neat thing to see a law go into effect that obviously meets a need.”
The ASA and the state autism coordinator at the Department of Mental Health helped in the creation of the identification cards and informing first responders across the state. To apply for a card, contact the ASA at 951-1364 or email Hager at bamah@autism-alabama.org.
“My hope for all families living with ASD is that our communities, our government and our culture will continue to develop supports and assistance for those on the autism spectrum,” Hager said.
