Autism-awareness effort grows into national role

Today the program is funded through the Autism Spectrum Division of the state Department of Mental Retardation, to the tune of some $35,000 a year, augmented by various small grants. The new federal grant will allow Cannata and his business partner and the center’s director, Betsy Roche, to go national.

Both are thrilled with the financial boost, and the expansion it will allow.

“We love it, and we love to talk about it,’’ said Cannata, who has a child with autism.

“We can’t wait,’’ added Roche, nodding enthusiastically during a recent interview.

The number of diagnoses of the developmental disorder has exploded over the last two decades, making their project’s educational work even more poignant and necessary, they said. The federal Centers for Disease Control says autism-spectrum disorders affect 1 in 110 children in this country.

Flashing police lights, the sound of sirens, acrid smoke, and strangers in their homes all add up to sensory overload for children and adults with autism, who might hide, try to bolt from the scene, or even attempt to run back into a burning home, Cannata said.

Responders should look for “stimming,’’ or physical movements like arm flapping to relieve stress, and people who hit themselves repetitively or become aggressive, he said.

The center’s training demonstrates how to diffuse panic, ask the right questions, and, especially, know what not to do in those tense situations, Cannata said. “For example, running and pinning someone down is a bad idea,’’ he said.

Rather, if firefighters have to act quickly, they can take a person with autism to a less frantic spot, or wrap them in a blanket to calm them.

“Give them space, geographic containment, and time,’’ he said.

Cannata and Roche said they are amazed at the calls of thanks from first responders who have put their new knowledge into practice, often shortly after completing the ALEC course.