BAY MINETTE — When a young child is found wandering the streets alone, the general public assumes a neglectful parent is to blame. Autism never enters their mind.

"(Children on the spectrum) wait until we answer the phone, they wait until we go to the restroom, they wait until we go to sleep — they become skilled at escape," Dennis Debbaudt, author and researcher, said.

Debbaudt talked with parents and caregivers Sunday evening about the dangers of wandering and how to best prepare for such incidents.

"We can increase security, put locks on doors and windows, but those measures are not 100 percent effective," he said. He said the key is to inform neighbors, friends and family and most importantly, local law enforcement and first reponders.

"There are two parts of our society who have little information about autism — people with autism and their families, and first responders," he said. "There is a skills gap in training and these two groups need to learn how to respond and react to each other in the field."

Debbaudt said families need to be proactive in preparing for an autism emergency by making sure law enforcement has information ahead of time and that information is available at home, in the car and on the person with autism in case of contact with first responders.

Although most people on the spectrum are not likely to become involved in criminal activity, "people with developmental disorders are seven times more likely to have interaction with law enforcement," Debbaudt said.

The reason for this? "Characteristics of autism such as rocking, flapping arms or repeating things said to them can be misinterpreted as intoxication or defiance," Debbaudt said.

"You can't look at a person and tell they have autism, so they make judgements based on appearances and behaviors.”

He said a good example is an autistic person's inability to make eye contact.

"For most of us, if a person is avoiding our eyes, we assume they are guilty or know something," Debbaudt said.

Many people on the spectrum are sensitive to touch, sound, or sight. They may be sensitive to fire, police or ambulance lights or sirens, or may not like to be touched. All of that can cause problems if first responders to not know a person is autistic.

Debbaudt has several suggestions to help these interactions be less stressful and more productive.

First, he says, contact the 911 operators and ask them to red flag information on  the person with autism. Doing that allows operators to alert any responding agencies that there is a person there with autism.

"The Autism Society of America's Safe and Sound Initiative features autism alert stickers for homes and vehicles," Debbaudt said. He said information can be found at autism-society.org by clicking on Safe and Sound in the store link.

Additionally, he said families should fill out and make copies of an autism emergency contact form.

"The Autism Emergency Contact form can be completed, copied and carried with you at all times," Debbaudt said. "Keep one at home, in your car's sun visor or glove box, in your purse or wallet, or affixed to a child's car seat."

He said the information sheet is not only helpful for the autistic person when they are approached by law enforcement or first responders, but it is also essential in the event a caregiver is suddenly incapacitated.

A copy of the handout or suggestions for what to put in a handout can be found at autismriskmanagement.com.

Debbaudt also mentioned two programs that can be very helpful to caregivers and first responders, especially in the event of wandering or bolting.

"Project Lifesaver is an international program that is now available in Baldwin County," he said.

He said the program features a transmitter "watch" and a tracker. If the person wanders from home, searchers can key in on the transmission, and the tracker can put caregivers in the right direction, rather than having to search a radius.

The other program, Take Me Home, features software allowing first responders who have computers in their vehicles to have information about the autistic person in their database. The program is free to law enforcement agencies.

Debbaudt said other issues facing people on the spectrum include the inability to differentiate friend from foe and a tendency to be made a target for bullying, or as Debbaudt calls it "assault."

"Officials use the term bullying to describe assault," Debbaudt said. "It's the first step in minimizing what's going on. 'Boys will be boys, I didn't know he was disabled or I thought he knew I was joking.'"

Debbaudt said those on the spectrum need to be taught what to do in these situations and schools or other facilities need to respond accordingly.

As for friend vs. foe, Debbaudt said that can be a problem because an autistic person can find themselves the victims of abuse or even be duped into criminal activity.

He showed a video depicting a couple of guys attempting to deliver drugs. They encounter a boy they know is autistic and talk to him about what good friends they are and how they can all hang out together if the boy will take this package to a house down the street.

"Autistic people want to be loved just as much as we do and will often do anything to make a friend," Debbaudt said.

Debbaudt said the key to teaching people on the spectrum is repeating information in "short, frequent bursts over a long period of time."

This includes information on sex, violence and appropriate social interaction.