Beyond the Label with Bruce and Erin Wilson

Listen in on this episode as we talk with Bruce & Erin Wilson. They live in California and have a son who has low verbal skills and has moderately, severe autism who is now 19 years old.

Because of their love and concern for their son Jay when he was younger, Bruce and Erin created The Non Profit If I Need Help (IINH). The Wilsons were terrified about what would happen to their son if he eloped or became separated from them - because he would not be able to provide information about himself or how to reunite with his loved ones. So to help their son and others like him with communication issues, they created an affordable wearable iD utilizing QR code technology which connects to a database that provides information about anyone with a disability. The products and free service are an effective way to alert community members and first responders that the wearer is a person with special needs who needs help, and how to provide that help.

Now that Jay is older, they still want to keep him safe, and If I need help has grown to 26,000 members internationally since 2014.

They are vendors with 10 CA Regional Centers for Safety iD Kits with thousands of families served.

Bruce is an active member of LA Found which is the LA county task force on wandering. They have trained over 1400 California Highway Patrol Officers about Autism in identifying it and de escalating situations.

For further information on resources explored in this podcast check out the links below:

Bruce Wilson presents at State Assembly on people with disabilities and law enforcement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnoA7wY0wNs

Erin Wilson discussing IINH on Judge Hatchett - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HdBjq6fQWgch9ve7752ClXCTuvIpxtSi/view

Discussion on Good Day LA - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gATtxYKjhHU1mVONRDgWn1pbUKYm5mHV/view

IINH Honored as part of Mental Health Awareness Month - https://signalscv.com/2022/05/if-i-need-help-honored-as-part-of-mental-health-awareness-month/?fbclid=IwAR0vkWHXix1b7_GiFYgroBWNZjofTd0yVauh5xrdUTHzf60pZbXj6gYyoWA

If I Need Help Website - https://ifineedhelp.org/