PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For many parents of the one in 68 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, wandering is a constant concern. A 2012 study* found that 49 percent of all children with autism attempt to wander or bolt from a safe, supervised place. Vivint Smart Home, the largest smart home services provider in North America and an official safety sponsor of Autism Speaks, works with the autism community to provide technology and services that help families better protect their loved ones with autism.
“We are dedicated to providing smart home technology and special pricing to help bring peace of mind to families and individuals affected by autism,” said Holly Mero-Bench, director of charitable giving at Vivint Smart Home. “The home is one place where families should not have to worry about the safety of their children.”
Families who care for children with autism find that smart home technology, as part of a comprehensive safety plan, provides answers to their unique challenges. Smart home technology can:
Reduce Safety Risks
While smart home systems are designed to prevent strangers from gaining entry into the home, they can also alert parents when children with autism attempt to leave the home unexpectedly. The central control panel will chime and send alerts to parents’ smart phones when an entry door, garage door or window opens. If a child leaves the property before anyone can respond, parents can use HD video from a doorbell camera or an outdoor camera to start searching in the right direction.
Parents of children on the spectrum know it is important to quickly find a child who wanders, as children with autism may be unable or hesitant to communicate once lost and might not understand the dangers posed by traffic or bodies of water.
“We’re so thankful we have a Vivint smart home,” said Norma Mendez, a mother from Chicago whose son is affected by autism and who received a donated smart home system in 2015. “A year ago, my son kept leaving. Now he knows the system protects him and our family and it’s a life-changer. He rarely wanders from safety anymore. The system provides peace of mind and we sleep much better.”
Create Opportunities for Growth and Independence
Parents of children with autism often feel the need to provide constant supervision to offer quick assistance and ensure safety. Indoor and outdoor cameras enable parents to monitor their children in a safe place, such as a backyard or a separate part of the house, while still giving the children a greater sense of independence.
Provide Relief for Parents
In the 2012 study, 43 percent of parents reported losing sleep over the fear that their child will wander in the middle of the night. A smart home system helps reduce that anxiety by assuming a monitoring role on key exit and entry points so parents can sleep more soundly. As parents and caregivers always need to be proactive about individual safety needs of those with autism, smart home technology can help relieve stress and create a safer environment.
For more information about how a Vivint smart home can benefit families with autism, visit vivint.com/autism.
*https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/study-confirms-autism-wandering-common-scary
About Vivint
Vivint Smart Home is the largest smart home provider in North America. The company combines innovative products and services to offer homeowners the best smart home experience. As the only vertically integrated smart home company, Vivint delivers its integrated platform and products with in-home consultation, professional installation and support delivered by its Smart Home Pros, as well as 24-7 customer care and monitoring. Vivint serves more than one million customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Since 2008, Vivint employees and owners have donated more than $10 million and 150,000 service hours to local communities, as well as those in need around the world. For more information, visit www.vivint.com.
