Lori McIlwain,  founder and president of the National Autism Safety Council

David welcomes Lori McIlwain,  founder and president of the National Autism Safety Council, to discuss autism safety with a focus on preventing harm while preserving dignity. Lori shares how her son’s repeated school elopements led her to collect fatality data, revealing distinct patterns including frequent drowning and a tendency to head toward nearby water, which informed “search water first” guidance and advocacy for national attention and policy change. They describe gaps then and now, including parent blame and arrests, law-enforcement policies that prioritize searching homes, and limited mental-health supports for higher-support-needs individuals, while highlighting simple, effective accommodations in care. Lori also addresses early suicide ideation, especially in autistic females, stresses daily mental check-ins, and emphasizes ongoing first-responder training. Her tip: define and communicate a child’s required supervision level across caregivers.    Resources are available at autismsafetycouncil.org and searchwaterfirst.org Contact David at [email protected]   Topics 00:37 Why Autism Safety Matters 02:25 Lori Story Begins 04:07 Data And Drowning Pattern 06:28 Partnering With NCMEC 09:50 Resources And Policy Wins 11:57 Progress And Current Gaps 14:57 Beyond Elopement Risks 15:42 Talking Suicide Early 20:47 Girls Masking And Burnout 23:44 Therapy Access Gaps 25:50 Simple Clinical Accommodations 27:38 Trauma And Counseling Needs 28:25 Virtual Communication Support 29:20 Nervous System Sick Days 30:58 Safety With Dignity 35:05 First Responder Training Moments 37:08 Tip of the Week Supervision Levels 40:40 Community PSA What Do You See 45:34 Factor Fiction Parent Blame 50:50 Resources and Final Wrap