NFPA Social Story: I Know My Fire Safety Plan

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a non-profit who has been providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896, has produced an interactive storybook. I Know My Fire Safety Plan teaches children with autism spectrum disorders what to do if a smoke alarm sounds.

I Know My Fire Safety Plan breaks down important points into easy-to-follow steps and uses the social story format. It acknowledges the apprehension children with autism may feel when a smoke alarm sounds or loud fire trucks with firefighters in turnout gear enter the neighborhood. Parents are advised to practice their fire safety plan with their children, and then read the story with them.

Participants are encouraged to use the interactive story to its full capacity by typing in their name, age, physical features, and the location of their outdoor meeting place. Children can also take part in the story by clicking on the corner of each page to turn it and they may start and stop at will.

The interactive story has been reviewed, at all stages of development, by the NFPA public education division’s Parents and Teachers of Children with Disabilities Advisory Group. It has also been reviewed by a psychologist from a school that serves children and adults with autism and by a respected author of manuals on crafting social stories.

You can view the social story book here: http://www.nfpa.org/gallery/Fire%20Safety%20Book/flip_book_r7.html. Macromedia Flash is required to run the program. For more information on emergency procedures and autism, look into this book at the CeDIR Library: Dangerous encounters--avoiding perilous situations with autism: a streetwise guide for all emergency responders, retailers, and parents