AutismNZ advocates MedicAlert for Autistic Kiwis

AutismNZ advocates MedicAlert membership for 40,000 New Zealanders on autism spectrum

Parents and carers of children affected by autism are being advised to sign-up for the MedicAlert service at the three-day annual Autism New Zealand 2010 Conference which began today in Wellington.

Due to a lack of awareness about the condition Autism New Zealand has made the decision to advise its members and any individual with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to sign-up to the MedicAlert service.

Autism New Zealand chief executive Alison Molloy says the decision is designed to protect their members and to ensure their needs are understood even if they are unable to communicate them.

“The MedicAlert ID and the information that sits behind it mean that in an emergency or an interaction with law enforcement or rescue workers, the condition can be identified early on and reacted to accordingly.”

MedicAlert members wear ID bracelets or necklaces with the internationally-recognised emblem which signals to medical professionals, emergency workers and the public that an individual has an ongoing condition affecting their health or wellbeing.

When the unique ID information is called into MedicAlert in the event of an emergency, relevant medical information and history is provided that can help ensure the right diagnosis, treatment and support is provided for the individual.

MedicAlert CEO Murray Lord says the MedicAlert service can help reduce the anxiety and stress faced by family members and friends of those with an ASD.

“A MedicAlert membership gives peace of mind to loved ones who can be confident that the right treatment or support can be provided in times of crisis.

“The MedicAlert service also records emergency contacts so parents or carers can be confident they can be contacted in the event of any interaction with police, emergency workers or other medical professionals.”

“By its nature autism can make it hard to interact with others so you want advocates to be on-hand to help.”

Symptoms of autism include difficulties communicating with others, difficulty coping when confronted with unfamiliar people or situations, impaired speech, language and communication, repetitive responses and insistence on ‘sameness’ in their environment.

“For those with an ASD being put in an unfamiliar environment often generates an increased level of anxiety which can result in increasingly unusual behaviour which others might have difficulty responding to,” says Molloy.

In New Zealand the number of people diagnosed with an ASD is estimated at more than 40,000 people – about 1 in 100 – with the majority of individuals affected being male.

“Autism New Zealand recommends that anyone diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders should enrol with MedicAlert,” says Molloy.

MedicAlert currently has less than 300 members diagnosed as having autism – leaving a large number of those with an ASD unprotected in the event of a medical emergency or crisis situation.

“This gap needs closing with urgency so we are looking to heighten awareness in the wider community and among families and carers of people with ASD.”

The Autism New Zealand 2010 Conference runs from September 10 – 12 and his being held at Te Papa in Wellington.

ENDS

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