Dr. Sanam Hafiz

So one of the things that I've been a huge advocate for is how do we keep them safe, right? Safety is a big deal. And I recall this one patient I was seeing since he was maybe 14 years old. The last time I saw him, he was maybe 17 or 18. No, the time before last. And I said to his dad, I said, look, your son is autistic, but he does not look autistic. I mean, I don't know even what that is, right?

So one of the things that I've been a huge advocate for is how do we keep them safe, right? Safety is a big deal. And I recall this one patient I was seeing since he was maybe 14 years old. The last time I saw him, he was maybe 17 or 18. No, the time before last. And I said to his dad, I said, look, your son is autistic, but he does not look autistic. I mean, I don't know even what that is, right?

A lot of people don't. And I said, if something happens and he had suddenly grown to be very tall and very big, if something were to happen in public, if he reacts, if he bolts, he just looks like a big black guy. And I worry about him because what does that mean? The next time dad comes back and he goes, Dr. Hafeez, I gotta tell you, he had a seizure. He passed out in a McDonald's.

A lot of people don't. And I said, if something happens and he had suddenly grown to be very tall and very big, if something were to happen in public, if he reacts, if he bolts, he just looks like a big black guy. And I worry about him because what does that mean? The next time dad comes back and he goes, Dr. Hafeez, I gotta tell you, he had a seizure. He passed out in a McDonald's.

A lot of people don't. And I said, if something happens and he had suddenly grown to be very tall and very big, if something were to happen in public, if he reacts, if he bolts, he just looks like a big black guy. And I worry about him because what does that mean? The next time dad comes back and he goes, Dr. Hafeez, I gotta tell you, he had a seizure. He passed out in a McDonald's.

When he woke up, there were cops looking at him, EMS, and he bolted and he was a big guy. And I had asked him to have him like make, and this is like, 10 years ago, I had asked dad to maybe make a bracelet and make him wear it that said, hi, my name is so-and-so, I'm autistic. And when the cops saw that, he told everyone, stop, stop, stop. You're going to freak him out. He's autistic.

When he woke up, there were cops looking at him, EMS, and he bolted and he was a big guy. And I had asked him to have him like make, and this is like, 10 years ago, I had asked dad to maybe make a bracelet and make him wear it that said, hi, my name is so-and-so, I'm autistic. And when the cops saw that, he told everyone, stop, stop, stop. You're going to freak him out. He's autistic.

When he woke up, there were cops looking at him, EMS, and he bolted and he was a big guy. And I had asked him to have him like make, and this is like, 10 years ago, I had asked dad to maybe make a bracelet and make him wear it that said, hi, my name is so-and-so, I'm autistic. And when the cops saw that, he told everyone, stop, stop, stop. You're going to freak him out. He's autistic.

And the dad was like, had I not done that, I am really shook by what could have happened to my son that day.

And the dad was like, had I not done that, I am really shook by what could have happened to my son that day.

And the dad was like, had I not done that, I am really shook by what could have happened to my son that day.

So it's important for parents, aging parents sometimes, to take stock of their child's situation and say, what happens to them when I'm gone? So I then also guide them towards what we call surrogate court. It's a court that allows you to bring a case to the judge, to the court, and say, this child has profound developmental disabilities. They cannot make decisions for themselves.

So it's important for parents, aging parents sometimes, to take stock of their child's situation and say, what happens to them when I'm gone? So I then also guide them towards what we call surrogate court. It's a court that allows you to bring a case to the judge, to the court, and say, this child has profound developmental disabilities. They cannot make decisions for themselves.

So it's important for parents, aging parents sometimes, to take stock of their child's situation and say, what happens to them when I'm gone? So I then also guide them towards what we call surrogate court. It's a court that allows you to bring a case to the judge, to the court, and say, this child has profound developmental disabilities. They cannot make decisions for themselves.

They may be intelligent on paper, but they have autism or a defining disability that will not allow them to make that decision. So I need to be able to assign another adult to either take full guardianship, which the courts are not crazy about, or specifically financial and medical guardianship or conservatorship. So there are ways to address, but you have to address everything.

They may be intelligent on paper, but they have autism or a defining disability that will not allow them to make that decision. So I need to be able to assign another adult to either take full guardianship, which the courts are not crazy about, or specifically financial and medical guardianship or conservatorship. So there are ways to address, but you have to address everything.

They may be intelligent on paper, but they have autism or a defining disability that will not allow them to make that decision. So I need to be able to assign another adult to either take full guardianship, which the courts are not crazy about, or specifically financial and medical guardianship or conservatorship. So there are ways to address, but you have to address everything.

You can't just be like, okay, we'll put them on medication. That'll be the end of it. You got to teach them skills. You got to get them into job training, but you also got to take care of the legal end of things. That's what I try to do with that end goal in mind.

You can't just be like, okay, we'll put them on medication. That'll be the end of it. You got to teach them skills. You got to get them into job training, but you also got to take care of the legal end of things. That's what I try to do with that end goal in mind.

You can't just be like, okay, we'll put them on medication. That'll be the end of it. You got to teach them skills. You got to get them into job training, but you also got to take care of the legal end of things. That's what I try to do with that end goal in mind.