My name is Shawn Snaith. I am a Critical Care Paramedic and Medic Training Officer at Medic EMS of Scott County. I have 2 Autistic Children, Gracie who is 12 and Christian who is 7. My family started the ASD Sensory Project at Medic EMS in 2019 as we saw the need in our community to have people understand Autism more, especially when it came to healthcare and how to help prevent meltdowns and severe stimming when having to have EMS response or any healthcare interactions. We want to be able to provide more education from a Parents Perspective as well as Professional Expertise. My wife, Elizabeth is a Behavioral Health Specialist and Co-Created this presentation and the project that is very well used at Medic EMS of Scott County. Having the background on both sides, personal and professional we can help to make EMS response to ASD individuals less traumatizing.

The autism project was started to help those with Autism be provided with the EMS support they need without the trauma that having emergency response can cause to those individuals with sensory, emotional and communication barriers. Our family strongly stands behind this project and know that they deserve the quality of care with as much support and compassion as can be provided, as well as knowledge of how to care for them without making an emergency already, into a lasting trauma. Through countless research and experience my Wife and I have worked together to provide training for multiple EMS staff around Iowa presenting at the Southeast Iowa EMS Conference as well as the IEMSA Conference in 2025.