KELLY TRAN
Inspired by the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office donating 100 autism sensory kits to the Waco Police Department in 2021, Felicia Graves wanted to see something similar in Taylor to ensure her son’s well-being in the community.
Graves shared the idea with Good Life, Taylor, Texas, founder Julie Rydell, whose nonprofit organization focuses on quality-of-life projects in the city.
“I have a little boy with autism, and so I thought that (the idea of kits) was so amazing,” Graves said. “And I thought, ‘Wow. How do we do this in Taylor?’” When Rydell shared the idea with Good Life’s board, member Tia Stone offered to discuss the concept with her Rotary Club in town.
A partnership between the organizations led to a $250 donation from Rotarians for supplies for the first 50 kits.
Club members also volunteered to help put them together.
Rydell plans to distribute the bags during the next few months.
“This just kind of totally fits in with our mission, and we try to ensure that everybody has a great experience in Taylor,” Rydell said.
Branded the “Better Day Bag,” each kit will feature a duck stuffed animal, noisecanceling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses, English and Spanish emergency communication boards and a dry-erase board and marker.
When first responders arrive on a scene, they must be ready for all kinds of interactions, including with those who have disabilities that may affect communication or behavior, such as autism and dementia.
The bag full of sensory soothers will allow first responders to help calm people experiencing overstimulation.
“(The kits will) just try to help with overwhelming situations,” Rydell said.
“People that I’ve encountered with autism …, I know that it can be a very difficult and overwhelming experience, especially either not understanding, not being able to express themselves.”
In addition to equipment, Rydell will include a card that lists free training resources from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services on how to recognize characteristic symptoms of autism and how to interact with individuals who may have the disorder.
This knowledge is particularly helpful when caregivers need assistance with finding autistic people who have wandered away, called elopement, and may be in danger.
“It would be great to be able to call the Police Department when I need help with (my son wandering), to help search for him and them to know where to look, as well as what to do when they get to him because he’s not going to be able to communicate back and forth, (and) how to calm down and safely get him back home,” Graves said.
However, autism training isn’t required for first responders, so many aren’t equipped for encounters with those on the spectrum, a likelihood that continues to grow, according to lawenforcement officials.
In a March 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of individuals diagnosed with the disorder increased from 20182020, with one in 44 children in 2018 experiencing some form of autism to one in 36 children in 2020.
Taylor Fire Department officials said they don’t have any autism-trained personnel, so Rydell is excited to share the resources Good Life has gathered.
“It’s a really special project,” she said. “If people had a better understanding, things would just go more smoothly.”
Rydell hopes to provide first responders across Williamson County with Better Day Bags and replenish them as time goes on.
Each bag costs $30, so Rydell said anyone interested in helping the project can give monetary donations.
Reach out to Good Life at www.goodlifetaylor. com.
