Swinging FORE Autism

10/25/2026

10/24/2026

08/13/2026

URGENT UPDATE: Community leaders, the U.S. is now averaging nine autism-related elopement deaths per month. This is a crisis in need of immediate action.

In the last seven days alone, six children have died following elopement. Two cases involved a torn or broken screen door, multiple children drowned in ponds, and multiple rescues have also occurred.

Among 2026 cases where race is known, nearly four out of five fatalities involved Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American children and adults.

Urgent action is needed to strengthen community supports, services, tools, training, and prevention programs, so that these deaths can be replaced with safe recoveries.

Elopement can happen very quickly and quietly, overnight while a family is sleeping, or right in front of a parent or teacher when a child abruptly bolts and outruns them.

In one of our previous studies, 45% of elopement cases occurred under non-parent supervision. This is not simply a matter of “bad parenting” or a parent failing to watch their child.

There is no single safeguard that can prevent every elopement incident. Supervision can have gaps. Locks and alarms can fail. Screens can tear. Routines change. Emergencies happen.

It's why prevention must be layered.

This Swiss Cheese Model for Autism Elopement uses NASC's SAFE framework to help families and communities think through multiple layers of prevention, preparation, and emergency response.

Please review and share the flyer. A single layer may have a gap, but multiple overlapping layers can help keep that gap from becoming a tragedy.

Download the flyer at: https://tinyurl.com/ElopementSwissCheeseModel

Dispatchers, Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) language is now available at https://autismsafetycouncil.github.io/alert-generator/

Our data dashboard is available at AutismDash.org, or https://www.autismsafetycouncil.org/search-water-first

To assist your community, write us at [email protected].

We need communities across the country working together to prevent these deaths and recognize and protect those at highest risk, particularly children with under the age of 10.

08/12/2026

Thankful for Cape Girardeau County Board for Developmental Disabilities
for providing this grant to make this possible for these kiddos ❤️ JR2 Proud ❤️🖤

From soft lighting and quiet corners at the middle school level to tactile sensory tools at the elementary schools, these sensory rooms are designed to serve as safe havens for students who feel overwhelmed during the school day. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/5SUqB

08/12/2026

From soft lighting and quiet corners at the middle school level to tactile sensory tools at the elementary schools, these sensory rooms are designed to serve as safe havens for students who feel overwhelmed during the school day. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/5SUqB

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

You asked. We delivered.

We’re excited to announce a collaboration between the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis (MOABA) and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment to bring you a FREE 3 CEU workshop—open to everyone!

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
🕐 1:00–4:00 PM CST
🎓 3 Learning CEUs

Join Matthew T. Brodhead, PhD, BCBA-D, for A Tutorial on Using Behavioral Systems Analysis to Improve Documentation Practices.

At MOABA, we’re committed to increasing access to high-quality professional development and creating opportunities that benefit the entire behavior analytic community—not just our members.

A sincere thank you to
Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment for partnering with us to make this opportunity available.

We can’t wait to see you there! Register today
https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/xTr5ggM2SiOmsWn-caZ35Q #/registration

08/06/2026

Today, we were so proud to present $1,500 to Autism Awareness of Southeast Missouri
from the proceeds of our very first golf tournament.

Our “why” has always been the families facing a new diagnosis and wondering what comes next. The appointments, therapy, waiting lists, trips, missed work, gas money, and all those hard in-between moments can feel overwhelming. We know because we were there—and that is exactly why we are here now: to help, guide, support, and remind families they do not have to walk through it alone.

Autism Awareness of Southeast Missouri is such a wonderful resource for local families. Please send anyone you know who may need information, guidance, support, or help taking those first steps their way. They truly care, they understand, and they have so many great resources available.

Thank you again to every sponsor, golfer, volunteer, donor, friend, and family member who helped make this possible. We had a whole lot of fun on the course, but being able to give back is the very best part. 💙⛳️
We are so thankful!!

One check presented… and another special stop coming soon! 🧩🥰💙