Keeping a Child with a Disability Safe: A Safety Plan for Parents and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers of a child with a disability can take specific steps to keep that child safe. Every child is different, and the concerns below are examples rather than a complete list; a child's health care provider, teachers and child care providers can help with the rest.

When moving or handling things is hard

All children run into unsafe situations, especially somewhere new. A child who has limited ability to move, see, hear or make decisions, or who does not feel or understand pain, may not realize something is dangerous or may have trouble getting away from it.

Safety equipment

Safety equipment is usually designed around a child's age and size rather than ability. Motor vehicle crashes are a major cause of death in children, so car safety matters. In choosing a car seat, a parent may need to consider whether the child has trouble sitting up or staying still, as well as age, height and weight. A health care professional can advise on the best car seat or booster seat and the right seating position.

Other equipment may need adapting too:

• A life jacket may need to be specially fitted.
• A smoke alarm that flashes and vibrates may work better in a home with a child who cannot hear.
• Handrails and safety bars can help a child who has trouble getting around or is at greater risk of falling.

Get advice on the right equipment, and have it in place before it is needed.

When talking or understanding is hard

Children who have trouble communicating may have fewer chances to learn about safety and danger. A child who cannot hear may miss spoken instructions; a child who has trouble understanding or remembering may learn about safety more slowly; a child who struggles to communicate may not be able to ask questions. Adults may assume a child with a disability knows about a danger when the child does not.

Safety may need to be taught in other ways:

• showing the child what to do
• rehearsing through pretend play
• practicing regularly

A child may also need another way to signal danger, such as a whistle, bell or alarm. Everyone who looks after the child should know how to communicate with them in an emergency. It also helps to contact the local fire department ahead of time and explain the child's needs, so that in an emergency no one has to rely on the child or bystanders to explain them.

When making decisions is hard

Some children have limited ability to make decisions because of developmental delays or limits in thinking skills, or because they find it hard to stop themselves doing things they want to do but should not. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), for example, may be very impulsive and not think about what their actions will lead to. Dangerous things are often stored up high, out of reach of small children, but an older child may be able to reach something they are not ready to handle safely. Check the child's surroundings, especially in new places.

Some children also find it hard to tell whether a person or situation is safe, and may not know what to do. Parents and caregivers can give them specific instructions for situations that could become dangerous. CDC also has separate guidance on wandering (elopement).

Room to move and explore

Children with disabilities often need extra protection, but like all children they also need to move and explore to develop healthy bodies and minds. Exploring teaches children what is safe and what is hard or dangerous. Being fit helps keep them safe, and an active life is important for long-term health.

Sports and active play can be harder for children with disabilities. Equipment may need adjusting, coaches may need more information and support, or communication difficulties may make team play harder. Teachers, coaches, care providers and health professionals can help find the right balance between being safe and being active.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Safety Plan Considerations" (child development and disability safety). https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/disability-safety/safety-plan.html
• CDC, "Child Passenger Safety": https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/child_passenger_safety/index.html; "Wandering (Elopement)": https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/disability-safety/wandering.html