First Awareness is working to make Autism Awareness & Interaction Training a standard part of firefighter, EMT, paramedic and first-responder academy education — before new responders ever enter active service.
Autism is part of the communities first responders serve every day — children grow into adults, and responders need to be prepared across the lifespan.
It is not a question of whether a first responder will encounter an individual with autism, but when.
Be Proactive — Not Reactive!
Sources: CDC autism prevalence data and national estimates of adults with autism.
For more than a decade, autism training has often been delivered after a difficult incident or only when a department can find the time and funding. This initiative changes where the training happens.
An emergency is one of the worst possible times for a first responder to learn these lessons for the first time. The goal is simple: give new responders the knowledge and skills before the call comes in.
The program is designed around a Train-the-Instructor model so one standardized curriculum can reach thousands of students without depending on a single instructor traveling from department to department.
We cannot control when a firefighter or EMT’s first call involving an autistic person will occur. We can help make sure they are prepared before it happens.
Contact First Awareness for academy participation, instructor information, partnerships, sponsorships, or questions about the Before the First Call initiative.
First Awareness / Before the First Call
A National Initiative of Prevent-Educate, Inc.