A new city initiative helps people with autism and sensory disorders remain calm in difficult situations and communicate with officials who respond to rescue calls.
It was developed by Bailey Hartley, a Virginia Beach career paramedic and the parent of a 4-year-old child with autism. Colt Kits, named for Bailey’s son, contain sensory items and communicative tools for people who may have challenges rescue officials don’t know about when they respond to help.
The idea came from Hartley’s work and her thoughts on how a 911 response might go for her child.
“You know, how would they know he’s autistic?” she said. “How would they be able to calm him down to understand, hey, what happened? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Kits contain items such as noise-cancelling headphones to block loud sounds and sunglasses to help with light sensitivities. There are adult and kids' sizes.
There are also sensory-regulation toys and items, from fidget spinners to small Rubik’s cubes, that can help “ground” people in an emergency, Hartley said.
The tools also help rescue officials communicate, such as with a dry-erase board and illustrated communication charts in English and Spanish.
“Someone who may have a sensory issue on a day-to-day basis, they can be overstimulated,” Hartley said. “You add lights and sirens and you add strangers coming into their home, it can really augment that overstimulation for them.”
EMS Battalion Chief Elizabeth Beatty said, “We try to take chaos and turn it into calm every day. When you have somebody who’s on either the autism spectrum or neurodivergent or just overwhelmingly undone by a situation, the idea of being able to help somebody focus and give them the communication tools they need is vital.”
Beatty added, “Without communication, we have a very hard time knowing what the patient might need.”
Similar kits are used nationwide, including through the work of the Michigan-based nonprofit Carter Kits, which has supplied its kits in 44 U.S. states. They are named for the child of one of the nonprofit’s founders.
There’s a greater understanding of spectrum disorders, said Lorisa Bellinger, the nonprofit’s operations manager. They’ve seen demand for the kits outside police, fire and rescue organizations, too.
“It helps even with anxiety and panic attacks,” Bellinger said. “It helps them refocus and center.”
In Virginia Beach, Hartley scheduled a meeting with EMS Chief Jason Stroud about bringing kits here. To the chief, the program clearly was worthwhile.
“My only question was how much do you need?” Stroud said.
Hartley said about $3,000. The chief offered $5,000.
“It’s what’s needed to give the patient the best experience,” Stroud said.
Colt Kits are on each ambulance serving Virginia Beach. One crew reported calming a teenager in an ambulance by using noise-canceling headphones and sunglasses during transport.
“We’re excited to see it grow,” Hartley said. “I think it will be a really good impact for those who need it.”
