It Takes Two
The It Takes Two campaign, supported by the Kevin and Avonte Grant (K&A), is a national initiative designed to reduce drowning related to wandering incidents among individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Two Seconds. Two Inches. Two Layers.
The
connection
is you.™
Impact
Prevention starts with small, rapid actions—and the It Takes Two campaign emphasizes the dual approach needed for effective safety and response. By leveraging the power of “two”—two seconds to act, two inches of water as a risk, and two layers of protection—we equip families, caregivers, and first responders with the resources needed to prevent wandering and drowning incidents.
The Autism Society is dedicated to driving meaningful change by equipping families, caregivers, and first responders with life-saving tools, education, and resources. By strengthening community connections, we can improve safety outcomes for individuals with Autism, other developmental disabilities and Alzheimer’s/dementia.
Statistics
Research shows that nearly half of individuals with Autism and 6 in 10 individuals with Alzheimer’s/dementia are at risk of wandering, often leading to life-threatening situations near water.
Understanding Kevin & Avonte’s Law
Kevin and Avonte’s Law, passed in 2018, honors the memory of Kevin Wills and Avonte Oquendo—two boys with Autism who tragically lost their lives after wandering. This law provides grant funding to local agencies to enhance community safety for individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and other developmental disabilities. Each year, 20 sites receive funding for proactive programming to prevent wandering and implement locative technology to help track and locate missing individuals.
Resources
The Autism Society of America has developed fact-based resources to help prevent wandering and drowning incidents. These free tools empower families, caregivers, and first responders to create safer environments for individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and other developmental disabilities. Explore them below:
- Wandering: What You Need to Know
- Wandering Resource Guide
- Wandering History Log
- Wandering Letter
- Trusted Neighbor 101
- Drowning: What You Need to Know
- Caregiver Water Safety Checklist
- Locative Tech: What You Need to Know
- Healthcare Communication Board
- Tablero de comunicación
- Healthcare Communication Board – Russian
- Healthcare Communication Board – Ukrainian
- Healthcare Communication Board – Arabic
- Healthcare Communication Board – Chinese
- Healthcare Communication Board – Farsi-Afraghanistan
- Healthcare Communication Board – Farsi-Iran
- Healthcare Communication Board – German
- Healthcare Communication Board – Haitian-Creole
- Healthcare Communication Board -Hmong
- Healthcare Communication Board – Kinyardwanda
- Healthcare Communication Board – Oromo
- Healthcare Communication Board -Polish
- Healthcare Communication Board – Somali
- Healthcare Communication Board – Swahili
Kevin & Avonte Grantee Sites
Partners
The Autism Society of America is proud to partner with national, state, and local leaders to promote health equity and the VEI. With over 60 partners and growing, here are a few highlights.
CDC/Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) The VEI started as a CDC-funded, AUCD sub-award pilot program in 2021 and launched network-wide in February 2022 across 12 affiliates.
In 2023, with support from USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC) and US Administration for Community Living, the VEI is expanding across our affiliate network to promote accessible vaccination through education and uptake of primarily flu and COVID-19 vaccines, but also shingles, pneumonia, and other routine vaccinations. The ADVC grant objectives focus on Autism and all disability, aging, BIPOC, Hispanic, LGBTQIA+, and rural communities.
and the Autism Society provided a healthcare professional training titled, “Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age
Give
With continued support for the Vaccine Education Initiative, we can increase access to care, and develop quality, trained providers to better serve the healthcare needs of Autistic individuals.
Partner Testimonials
“The Autism Society's webinar received great attention across our network and requests to utilize their educational resources, tools, and vaccine kits. Immunize.org recognizes that the Autism Society’s vaccine resources, guides, tips, and visual tools are transformative to the vaccination experience.”
“As a board member of a national Down Syndrome association, a leader in our nation’s immunization efforts and pharmacy profession, and a proud father of a son with Down Syndrome, I am passionate about the Autism Society’s Vaccine initiatives to advance vaccine education, confidence, and access to the disability community.”
“By meeting the needs of Autistic community members, we have an opportunity to meet a wide range of needs that exist in local communities, impacting multiple marginalized identities. This includes those with and without Autism, those who have been historically hesitant about vaccines, and those who are eager to get vaccinated but who face social, environmental, or other barriers to vaccination and/ or healthcare. I resoundingly support the Autism Society's Vaccine Education Initiative to increase Covid and Influenza vaccines within the aging and disability communities.”
“I have never seen this happen so smoothly before. I loved being introduced to the shot blocker and Buzzy Bee.”
“There’s no reason why we can’t do this in every clinic. We can and we should.”
“We've encountered a few situations with autistic patients where we have utilized the buzzy device, enabling us to successfully undergo blood draws. Furthermore, families express astonishment at the availability of tools that enhance the quality of service for their autistic family members.”
