An ambulance service in Muskegon is adding some extra tools to help patients with Autism and a West Michigan mom and EMT is behind the effort.
Amber Horton is not only an EMT for Mercy Health Pro Med Ambulance, but she also has a son with autism.
Horton said that the bright lights, sounds, and just overall scary experience of riding in an ambulance can make it really stressful and hard for Autistic patients to communicate so, she came up with some special kits to help them cope.
“It’s pretty much torture for an Autistic kid,” Horton said.
She also knows first-hand what it’s like to have to call 911 to help when someone with Autism has an accident.
She said, “My son when he was about two, decided to take a swan dive down the laundry chute, so I got to be the parent on that one and it’s scary.”