If someone asked you, “What is autism?” would you be able to give an accurate description? Most people have heard of autism or are familiar with the term “on the spectrum,” but autism spectrum disorder is often widely misunderstood – even though an estimated 164,000 Australians have it, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).
Kathrine Peereboom, an Aussie mother of three severely autistic nonverbal boys, knows how important it is for people to understand the disorder, especially law enforcement, to ensure that no person on the spectrum is ever put in a position where their dignity or safety is compromised by a first responder or service provider due to lack of awareness or ignorance.
