09/17/2026
World Patient Safety Day 🧡
Patient safety means more than preventing medical errors. It also means recognizing the communication, sensory, behavioral, and support needs of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
For autistic patients, hospital environments can create additional challenges. A review of 30 studies found recurring barriers related to communication, sensory needs, hospital environments, family involvement, and healthcare systems (Greenwood et al., 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37743597/).
Another study found that 12.4% of hospital admissions involving autistic children and adolescents included at least one episode of agitation, with sensory sensitivities linked to more than twice the risk during hospitalization (Pediatrics, 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32238537/).
This World Patient Safety Day, we recognize that safe care means ensuring every person is heard, understood, supported, and included. 🧡
