Blog Assistive Technology The Vicious Cycle of Safety Concerns

The Vicious Cycle of Safety Concerns

Updated on September 30, 2024 Listen to the Podcast

Every autistic person is different, each with his or her own unique place on the spectrum. We believe that all children with autism deserve to maximize the full potential of their independence while maintaining safety and security. That is why we created AngelSense: to empower individuals to grow beyond their limitations and live a fuller life. With a sophisticated assistive technology designed specifically for individuals with autism and other special needs, which includes a wearable device and an app for multiple caregivers, AngelSense provides parents and children with a life-changing solution that breaks the vicious cycle of safety concerns.

What Is the Vicious Cycle of Safety Concerns?

Regardless of which level of autism a child falls under, parents worry about their safety as they tend to be prone to eloping and being mistreated, and often lack the communication skills needed to get help from others. These safety concerns lead to a high level of anxiety for the parents, which in turn, cause them to restrict their child’s environment and avoid their participation in many regular activities such as taking out the garbage, walking the dog, playing outside or taking the school bus. These restrictions enhance the child’s maladaptive behavior, which in turn enhances the safety concerns.

A person with autism wearing glasses and an orange hoodie, sitting by a window with a green mug beside them, looking thoughtfully outside.

Effects of the Vicious Cycle

Once a family with an autistic child gets caught up in this cycle, there are many negative repercussions for both the parents and the child:

Limited community and social engagement, as caregivers separate the child from potentially stressful contact with the outside world

Increased developmental delays, because the child is not exposed to challenging situations that enable them to build coping behaviors

Greater dependence on caregivers and external services due to lack of coping skills, which contribute to greater anxiety and exhaustion for the parents

A young person with autism is standing beside an open car door, wearing a striped shirt and carrying a backpack, showing a moment of independence despite the autism challenges of worry and dependence.

Safety Concerns Go Beyond Elopement

It is often difficult for supportive parents to avoid this vicious cycle. A child with autism who is given any sort of independence – which is vital for development – faces safety risks wherever they go. Public transportation, the school bus, or simply walking their dog down the street can result in getting lost, run-ins with unsympathetic people, emotional meltdowns, and more. Out of worry for their wellbeing, caregivers restrict these run-of-the-mill activities, which ultimately translates into the child never learning to do them.

How AngelSense Breaks the Vicious Cycle

AngelSense addresses this variety of safety concerns with its Assistive Technology which includes a proactive AI-powered alerting system, a GPS tracking device that is worn by the autistic person, and a mobile app for multiple caregivers. AngelSense proactively alerts of any change in location, allowing caregivers to immediately communicate with the device wearer via an auto-pickup speakerphone, and provides a rich set of emergency tools to quickly locate their whereabouts. Also, the device wearer can press an SOS button on their AngelSense device to request immediate help at any time. Parents enjoy peace of mind knowing that their child is safe, and that if any issues arise, they will be notified immediately and have the ability to assist remotely via the AngelSense tools. With the reduction of safety concerns, the parents’ anxiety level is significantly reduced, allowing them to give their child more freedom to do more things on their own, increases their confidence and self-esteem, reduces maladaptive behavior, which further reduces the safety concerns thus breaking the vicious cycle.

A mother sitting on the floor in a hallway, leaning against the wall with their head in their hands, depicts the stress and emotional toll of dealing with the vicious cycle of autism safety concerns.

Key AngelSense Features

We developed AngelSense based on the understanding that parents of children with special needs wish they could give them more freedom, but don’t want to compromise their safety. We designed every feature of the device with this primary goal: to empower parents with the ability to control their kids’ safety from afar, while giving their child greater independence, which leads to increased well-being and overall quality of life.

Here are just a few of the many AngelSense capabilities, which make it an essential tool for maintaining safety and building independence in people with autism:

AI-Powered Alerting System: Proactively sends notifications to the parent’s mobile app to assist in potentially dangerous situations – arrival & departure alerts, unknown place alerts, transit alerts, and more.

Auto Pickup Speakerphone: Caregivers can communicate with both one-way and two-way voice options, using the auto-pickup speakerphone on the child’s AngelSense device.

SOS Button: The child can press the configurable SOS button on their AngelSense device to request a call from their parent. The parent can then call the device, and the call will start automatically using the auto-pickup speakerphone.

Smart Voice Messages: Parents can schedule and deliver pre-recorded messages to play on their child’s device: By location, by time, or on demand. For example, “remember to lock the door” will play at the time your child comes home from school, or “Have a wonderful day at school” will play when they enter school boundaries.

Real-time Tracking: AngelSense provides continuous monitoring that includes real-time location reporting, motion-sensor activation, and a detailed timeline of the wearer’s activities.

A collage showing three children with autism engaged in different activities, and a close-up of a smartphone displaying the AngelSense app, illustrating the use of technology to alleviate parental anxiety and promote independence.

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Use Cases

Here are a few examples of how AngelSense is being used today to dramatically improve quality of life:

Preventing Wandering. Even if an autistic child wanders off, the parent can easily find them and arrange to bring them home. The parent will receive an immediate notification if the child leaves a safe zone or arrives in an unknown location, and will see clear directions of the fastest route to their child. They can also speak with the child through the automatic-pickup speakerphone feature, which lets them calm and assist the child until their arrival.

Riding the School Bus. AngelSense helps both parents and children with special needs feel at ease riding the school bus. Taking the bus saves the parents time and gives children with autism improved independence and confidence. The child can press the SOS button if they need help, and the parent can use the one-way auto-pickup to hear their child. The device also shows how fast the driver is driving, if there are unplanned stops, and where the child is dropped off. This lets the parent feel calm in letting their autistic child take the bus and develop the lifelong skill of traveling on their own. Add – the parent will also be notified if the child is dropped off at the wrong location or left behind when they were supposed to be picked up

Enjoying Outdoor Activities. AngelSense empowers children with autism to grow through everyday activities such as going to the store, riding a bike, or taking out the garbage. Complications and stress are minimized as the device wearer can instantly communicate and get help. Parents can always remotely accompany and support their child through the remote voice with assistive speakerphone features. Engaging in ordinary activities like these boosts their development and skills, and prevents potential isolation.

The Positive Ripple Effect

Rather than autism safety concerns leading to an inevitable vicious cycle, these behaviors can be turned around into a positive ripple effect by using AngelSense. Here are just a few of its mutually-supporting benefits:

Enhanced social and emotional development for children, as they gain exposure to challenges in a safe and controllable manner

Increased confidence and self-esteem due to greater abilities to function independently

Strengthened trust between parents, children, and their community as autistic individuals experience fewer negative episodes outside the home

Improved mental health for parents due to lower care commitments and reduced stress

Testimonials and Feedback

Over the years, we have received outstanding reviews from parents of autistic kids from all over the US and at every age group and level of the spectrum, which speak to the true value of AngelSense.

“AngelSense is the best thing that I ever bought for my daughter.”

“I use the AngelSense device to give my 5-year-old independence.”

“Today having AngelSense prevented me from going into a complete panic!”

“It feels so great to let him take his bike around the block and not have to worry about him!”

Try AngelSense with Your Child

We encourage parents of autistic children to break the vicious cycle of safety concerns and give their child greater freedoms. AngelSense provides a new beginning: an opportunity to offer safety, effective remote support, which allows them to experience more diverse activities which then leads to a higher level of independence. If you need Assistive Technology that gives your autistic child more independence, and you more peace of mind, contact AngelSense today.