Transition Music And Media Completes Production On National PSA To Address Autism Wandering Incidents
This PSA was produced to raise awareness and enhance education of the dangers of wandering.
- (1888PressRelease) February 26, 2014 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Transition Music & Media Corporation teamed with Basil Street Entertainment to produce the first National PSA to bring awareness to the issue of autism related wandering, and its dangers on behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Wandering was brought to the forefront as a national issue when Avonte Oquendo, a 14 year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) wandered from his New York City school last October, and most recently with the news of his tragic death.
The PSA, narrated by actress Holly Robinson-Peete and produced by Donna Ross Jones -both autism advocates and parents of children with autism - encourages people to learn the 3 S's: Stop, Seek, Stay. Stop to help, seek assistance from police, and stay until they arrive when encountering a child with autism who has wandered.
"I live with fear every day; knowing my son may dart off at any time. Wandering is not a rare occurrence for our kids; my son will walk out of our house, and go into the street without looking to find a pool, or he'll walk into a stranger's house in search of a computer or video's to play" said Jones, CEO of Transition Media and author of the blog Autism Day by Day. "92% of families who have a child with ASD live in fear and isolation because their child - unaware of dangers, unable to provide personal information or protect themselves - may wander into the community vulnerable to the worst possible outcomes. Community awareness is how we can create a safety net for our children. This video is a first step toward that goal".
People with ASD can become particularly vulnerable if they go missing. A recent study by the Interactive Autism Network reported that 49 percent of people with ASD are prone to wandering. Given some of the core symptoms of the disorder, such as communication difficulties and lack of speech, nearly one-third of the individuals who wander may not be able to say their name, phone number or address. Some individuals with ASD also may not fully understand danger, and can become attracted to distant objects and bodies of water. This poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of those with ASD who are prone to wandering.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Autism Speaks have formed a partnership to address this critical issue and get the message out. The partnership will take actionable steps toward preventing and responding to wandering incidents through the development of an emergency portal on the Autism Speaks website, www.autismspeaks.org. The portal will include autism safety information and resources, as well as phone numbers and email addresses at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to report a child with ASD who is missing.
"We have seen the unique challenges that law enforcement face when working cases that involve children with autism. Their tendency to wander puts many of these children at risk for serious harm," said National Center for Missing & Exploited Children President and CEO John Ryan. "Together with Autism Speaks, we are reaching families and law enforcement to provide potentially life-saving information about how to respond when a child with autism goes missing. We are grateful for organizations such as Autism Speaks and know that together, we can help save lives."
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders - autism spectrum disorders - caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum - a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About Transition Music & Media®
Transition Music & Media is a cutting edge company led by a team of award-winning entertainment industry innovators & supported by GRAMMY® and EMMY® Award-winning artists. Transition Music & Media offers one-stop solution encompassing all stages and phases of production from development to completion. TMC is the exclusive music provider for more than 23 TV series & 9 networks whose clients include: Networks, cable television, marketing & advertising agencies, corporations, federal agencies, new media creators, independent producers & major studios. Founder Donna Ross Jones, a recognized industry leader and autism advocate, is the Co-Founder of Special Needs Network and publisher of the online blog Autism Day By Day. She has received Congressional recognition for her work impacting public policy and helping families living with autism through education and advocacy. To learn more visit www.transitionmusicandmedia.com and www.autismdaybyday.net.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. Authorized by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 191,000 children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child sexual exploitation. Since it was created in 1998, more than 2.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been received, and more than 104 million suspected child pornography images have been reviewed. NCMEC works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. Follow NCMEC on Twitter and like NCMEC on Facebook.
For More information visit: MISSINGKIDS.COM/AWAARE
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam