Grants

January, 2013 – Autism Speaks $5,000 Community Grants Grant for Project iCAN: Using the iPad to Communicate and Access Needs providing income eligible families with iPads and a communication app. Project focused on coaching parents in navigating, customizing, and using the iPad and app to promote effective communication skills in their children with ASD and included in-home follow-up support to maximize procedural fidelity.

July, 2016 – CS/SB 230 – Missing Persons with Special Needs Bill approved by the Governor addresses personal safety of persons with special needs who elope (wander) by providing personal safety devices to aid search-and-rescue efforts for such persons and $100,000 funding for each of three pilot study projects.

In collaboration with FAU College of Business and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities tested the effectiveness of search-and-rescue technology, including unmanned aerial systems, when used in combination with personal safety devices to reduce search and rescue recovery time associated with wandering and elopement cases.