PLEASE WATCH FOR OUR AUTISTIC CHILD

We moved into this neighborhood in June.  We have a 12-year old son with autism named ___________.  He is fairly large for his age and usually wears a baseball hat.

We watch him very carefully, but sometimes he unpredictably wanders away. 

Lately he has been leaving the yard and going into neighbor's yards and even onto their decks.  He likes to look for places to sit.

IF HE COMES INTO YOUR YARD, PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED.  HE IS NOT A THIEF.  HE IS NOT DANGEROUS.  HE NEVER HAS ANY KIND OF WEAPON.  HE NEVER ATTACKS PEOPLE OR COMMITS ANY KIND OF CRIME.  HE IS JUST AUTISTIC.  THIS IS LIKE ALZHEIMER'S.

___________ MIGHT PICK UP AN OBJECT, OR WAVE SOMETHING BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF HIS FACE, OR COME CLOSE TO YOUR FACE LIKE HE IS LOOKING INTO YOUR EYES.  AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED.  HE IS COMPLETELY HARMLESS.

___________ DOES NOT SPEAK MUCH AT ALL.  HE DOES NOT APPRECIATE DANGER.  HE MIGHT APPROACH A DOG OR WALK INTO THE STREET WITHOUT LOOKING.  HE MIGHT WALK INTO YOUR HOUSE IF A DOOR IS OPEN, PARTICULARLY IF HE SEES COOKIES OR OTHER TREATS.  IF THERE IS SOMETHING DANGEROUS AROUND YOUR HOUSE, HE MIGHT HURT HIMSELF ON IT. 

HE WILL BECOME LOST VERY EASILY AND NOT KNOW HE IS LOST.  IF YOU ASK HIM A QUESTION HE WILL LIKELY NOT ANSWER, OR HE MIGHT SAY "DON'T KNOW."

___________ MAY SEEM TO BE DEAF.  HOWEVER, HE CAN HEAR.  BUT HE DOES NOT APPRECIATE OR ACT UPON THINGS HE HEARS OR SEES.  

___________ SOMETIMES HAS OUTBURSTS WHERE HE MIGHT PINCH HIMSELF OR SOMEONE NEARBY OR SCREAM OR SHAKE HIS HANDS OR ARMS OR ACT IN OTHER UNUSUAL WAYS FOR A FEW MOMENTS.  THIS IS LIKE A SEIZURE.  PLEASE DO NOT MISINTERPRET ANY OF THESE MOTIONS.  HE NEVER HAS ANY KIND OF WEAPON AND NEVER INTENDS TO HURT ANYONE.

MOSTLY, HE WANDERS QUIETLY AROUND, PICKING UP SMALL THINGS AND WAVING THEM BACK AND FORTH.  AND LOOKING FOR PLACES TO SIT.   

IF YOU SEE ___________, PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED OR GET HIM UPSET.  PLEASE JUST CALL US.  WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING FOR HIM.

THANK YOU.

[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[PHONE]