Finding a child ID system for special needs children can be difficult and there is no one ID style or system that will work for every child. Parents and caregivers need to consider their child’s tolerance for bracelets as well as their own willingness to maintain an ID system on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. ID options for special needs children include permanent bracelets, temporary tattoos, tracking bracelets and biometric face matching technology.
Child ID Bracelets and Temporary Tattoos
Child identification bracelets and temporary tattoos are the least expensive, low-tech options. These options have advantages and disadvantages whether the child has special needs or not but some disadvantages are relevant specifically to special needs children. Temporary tattoos can be a solution for children with sensory issues, but they come with their own disadvantages. While some parents might use temporary tattoos while on vacation, special needs parents must apply a new tattoo every day. Temporary tattoos may wear off at an inopportune time.
Bracelets create their own challenges. For example, children with autism often have sensory issues. “Objects that touch the skin may bother a child with autism so much that they may not tolerate the object,” said occupational therapist Nancy Konigsberg in an email interview. “Bracelets can be good if it appeals visually to the child and it is made of a soft, non-irritating material,” Konigsberg said.
“What the caregiver needs to do with a child with spectrum disorder is find the product the child will tolerate, and through behavior modification and reinforcement, teach the child to show it to strangers and not to take it off.” Children with Down Syndrome can be taught the importance of leaving the bracelet alone with behavior strategies, said Konigsberg. She features at-home therapy for caregivers on her blog Milestone Mom.
Tracking Bracelets for Special Needs Children
One high-tech option for locating special needs children are Project Lifesaver/LoJack SafetyNet tracking bracelets. These tracking bracelets use radio frequency for uninterrupted coverage and “carry a reported 100 percent recovery rate,” according to Lori McIlwain, Board Chair of the National Autism Association. Project Lifesaver is less than $6,000 and serves anyone with a cognitive impairment at risk for wandering whether they are a child or adult.
Project Lifesaver faces obstacles in awareness. Caregivers may not know the program is available and law enforcement agencies may be unable to afford the technology or unwilling to acquire the program, McIlwain said. “We’ve offered grants to agencies that showed little enthusiasm in acquiring the program, and for those, we have to back away. They have to be committed in order for it to be effective.”
Like many child ID bracelets, some children may have trouble wearing the bracelets due to sensitivity issues or may try to remove the bracelets. Project Lifesaver offers bracelets that are more difficult to remove. Batteries must be replaced regularly and caregivers must check to be sure the bracelet is operating properly, but these bracelets have been extremely effective in locating and rescuing missing children and adults.
High-Tech Child Identification Systems
A high-tech option that does not use a bracelet system is WanderID created by Tactical Information Systems. “WanderID uses biometric face matching technology that is being adapted from Department of Defense technology and applied to the consumer market,” said Mary Haskett, president and co-founder of Tactical Information Systems, in an email.
Parents or caregivers upload a photo of the child and emergency information into the WanderID system. If a child wanders, the person who locates the child can take a digital photo and upload it into the company’s website. The person finding the child is then connected with the parent or caregiver through the company’s switchboard.
“The WanderID solution can't be lost or removed (unlike ID jewelry) and the contact information can be updated 24/7 so that if the family travels, moves or if the child goes to camp, the contact information is easily kept current,” Haskett said. Subscriptions to the WanderID service are $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year.
The company provides training to the first responder community. “They are happy to use WanderID ‘just in case’ because the alternative methods are so time consuming. Without an identification they either have to start driving up and down streets near where the child was found or just wait until the caregiver calls,” Haskett said. “WanderID is something they can do quickly and easily (and for free).”
Child identification products can make the crucial difference when a child with special needs wanders or becomes lost. Identification bracelets and tracking bracelets work well for children who can tolerate wearing the bracelet and can be taught through behavioral therapies to keep it on. Temporary tattoos are a low-cost option but require daily maintenance to ensure they are visible and intact. Biometric face matching technology systems uses advanced technology to reunite children and caregivers.
For more articles regarding children, read Child ID Bracelets Keep Contact Info on Kids or Label Personal Items for Daycare and Preschool. For more information about wandering prevention, safety and response, visit the Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE) Collaboration.
Genna Cockerham - Genna Cockerham has been writing online since November 2008. She served as Marriage Feature Writer from December 2008 to February ...
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