New program helps Jasper Co. first responders support individuals with autism during emergencies
JASPER COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) — Emergency calls are often chaotic situations, whether crews are responding to a crash, a structure fire, or a crime in progress. In many instances, someone living with autism spectrum disorder is involved.
Now, a new initiative in Jasper County aims to bridge the communication gap and give first responders critical information before they even arrive on scene.
The Lowcountry Autism Foundation (LAF) has officially expanded its LAF AID program into Jasper County. The free initiative combines year-round first responder training with a personalized identification database designed for safe, de-escalating interactions between emergency personnel and autistic individuals.
Sophia Townes, executive director of the Lowcountry Autism Foundation and a mother of two children diagnosed with autism, has led the organization for two years.
For Townes, launching the program locally meets an urgent community need.
“I just think knowledge is power,” Townes said. “Autistic individuals are members of our community just like everybody else. And we need to know about them just like they learn about us.”
How LAF AID works
When families enroll in LAF AID, their loved one’s profile is entered into a secure dispatch database. Whenever a registered family calls 911, Jasper County dispatch notifies responding officers and emergency crews ahead of time.
First responders gain access to critical background details, including:
- Name, address, and emergency contact information
- Level of autism diagnosis (from level one to severe)
- Known sensory triggers and behaviors
- Specific techniques and calming strategies that help de-escalate the individual
In addition to dispatch notes, registered individuals receive discreet, wearable identifiers — such as a red ID bracelet, shoe tag, or temporary tattoo — allowing first responders to quickly spot them on scene, even if a person becomes lost, overwhelmed, or non-verbal in public.
“They’re going to be able to recognize this person is not a true threat, that they are on the autism spectrum,” Townes said. “It doesn’t matter if your loved one is high-functioning autistic level one or severe. They all need support, and this is one way of providing that.”
Townes noted that families in Jasper County have been waiting eagerly for the program’s rollout.
“I can’t tell you the phone calls and the emails I’ve received from families that we serve in Jasper County: ‘Hey, when is it coming? We need this,’” Townes said. “And I’m like, ‘Hey, let me get the funding. It’s coming. I promise.’”
How to register
Signing up is free and can be completed on a mobile phone or computer:
- Visit lafinc.org.
- Open the navigation menu in the top-right corner and select Programs.
- Select LAF AID.
- Click Online Registration and submit the participant form.
Expanding across the Lowcountry
While the program has served families in neighboring counties for years, Jasper County is the newest jurisdiction to participate.
Organizers say Hampton County is slated to adopt the LAF AID program in the coming months as the foundation continues expanding across the Lowcountry.
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