Sadly, on July 4th, a mass shooter killed seven people and hurt many more, as they were trying to enjoy the parade in Highland Park, Illinois. I am a resident of Highland Park. I was not at the parade on the 4th but my sister was there. She was close enough to hear the shots but far enough away to not be hurt.

Reflecting on this, I realized as a non-speaker, I would be totally lost in a situation like this or in any other emergency. If I get separated from a caregiver who knows me in an emergency, I am completely vulnerable. Not only would there be the threat of the shooter, I also would have no communication if I were to be separated. While I love my communication method, this is the main drawback: I can’t just spell with anyone who may find me in an emergency because they are not trained. It used to be a minor annoyance, but now it really scares me since this incident so close to home.

My family and I compiled a list of things below that could be worn in the event of an emergency. These are some great options (all pictures are links). I have used the first one and I am looking forward to getting another one. Probably a combination of the second and third one listed. These make me feel much more safe going in public.