Should my Asperger's son wear a medical ID bracelet?

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What is y'all's opinions about this? (Wade is 8 years old) Thanks...

Does he have severe allergies, a medical problem or something that may interfere with treatment if he has to be taken to a hospital immediatly? If it's just because he has AS, then I really don't think so, medical proffesionals are trained to handle people with a large range of mental syndromes. About the only thing I'd see a medical bracelet would do is further isolate him and make him even more likely to be teased.

I don't think that he should have to wear one, just for AS. That will give the impression that AS is a disease, and the reality is, that it's not a disease.

Yeah, I guess so. I was only concerned because there have been a couple of occasions (such as at the library) when people got a bit irate with him due to his quirky behavior. When I quietly explained about Asperger's, they were more than accomodating.

give him a card that explains about his AS or autism. something that he could carry in his wallet.
the bracelet would only make him seem disabled

....

I wouldn't go with a medical alert bracelet, go with an information card that explains Asperger's Syndrome and how he tends to react in emergency situations so that the emergency technitions (ambulence, police, fire crews extra) can understand whats going on and how best to help him. There is an autism site that has a generic one posted for use if your interested I could look up the site address for you.

I don't really know. I have heard of situations where cops automatically assume if a person is combatitve, that they are behaving agressively where if they had the knowledge they have AS, they would know they were reacting in terror. I don't think this might apply to your son yet because he's so young.

I hate to bring this up, but there have been stories of cops tasing neurodiverse people, because they react to being assaulted on by the police in a way that might be seen as violence. If there was a bracelet saying they were on the spectrum that they had to look for, or something else that would tell them from a distance they're dealing with someone neurodiverse. There might be less incidents of cops acting agressively towards people who have a over-sensitive flight or fight response.

He's going to have to learn to control himself in public (or you need to get him on some meds). Other posters here are right. The Cops, especially the TSA are more likely to shoot someone in an airport than help them. It is important that you don't leave him alone in situations like that. I mean, an 8 year-old might be okay, but a teenager.....most cops (there are exceptions, and I've met some of them, but for the most part...) are stupid and uncaring, no matter what they say. Sorry. That's the truth. Their response to everything is to shoot first and ask questions later. A bracelet won't help.

If he has tantrums in public, don't leave him alone in public.

He'll probably get better as he gets older, but right now is right now.

Good luck.
Beentheredonethat

Agreed with what the other poster has said. I wouldn't have thought medical ID bracelets would be much good unless you want to make him stick out like a sore thumb. If he goes off on one in public then leaving him on his own isn't a good idea - he could get himself into all kinds of trouble.

Hi, are you the same Two_Sheds from u75?

The NAS organisation in the UK sell cards saying 'this young person has autism/AS' + a few points to laymen about anxiety, the need to speak clearly and literally etc. The idea is to show it to an authority figure when needed, hopefully defusing the situation.

Give him an Asperger Syndrome card to carry in his pocket then he can produce it if necessary but his AS won't be "advertised" to people who don't need to know about it. I have one in my wallet and carry it with me but haven't had to show it to people yet.