Emily Tucker is no stranger to the obstacles that face children with special needs.

The mother of an autistic son, Tucker has been an advocate for autism awareness for many years.

Recently, with the help of the Autism Society of North Carolina, she started a support group in Richmond County for parents, families and anyone who’s been impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

And because of her efforts, Tucker was recently appointed to the N.C. Legislature’s Joint Study Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Public Safety.

The committee is designed to study the availability of autism-specific training and education to law enforcement personnel, community colleges, public safety personnel, first responder units, judges, district attorneys, magistrates and related organizations.

“I also serve on a local task force for exceptional children for Richmond County Schools and there’s a lot to do so these children don’t get left behind in the system,” Tucker said.

Tucker just found out about her appointment to the committee last week, when she received a letter from Sen. Marc Basnight.

She was first asked about her willingness to serve on the committee by Sen. William Purcell, a man Tucker said she has always looked up to and admired. He spoke to her autism support group.

“He knows my heart and special interest in autism,” Tucker said. “He knows the needs of special needs in Richmond County and he called and asked if I’d serve on the committee. I said sure and he and Rep. Melanie Goodwin submitted my name and asked me to submit a bio. I did, and I got a letter from Marc Basnight appointing me to the committee.”

“I’m very humbled and excited,” Tucker said.

“Being a mother of a special needs child, that’s where my heart is,” she added. “There’s a lot we can do to make sure kids remain safe when out in public.”

Purcell said Tucker is a solid choice to join the committee.

“First of all, she’s very competent, and she’s also very active in autism activities in Richmond County. We needed a good local representative, and I think she’ll be a great asset to this committee.”

Purcell explained the committee has been involved in working with law enforcement and the court system to raise awareness of autism and its symptoms.

“Some of the issues we will be looking at in the future include housing for adults with autism,” Purcell said. “We will also be working on requiring insurance to pay for treatment for children with autism.”

Tucker said she wants to make the community aware there are certain ways children with special needs need to be handled during emergencies — such as how to approach them if he or she has run away or is hurt.

“I’ve explained to my neighbors how to approach my son if he gets lost or runs away because they (autistic children) are afraid of loud noises and many other things, and a lot of people aren’t aware of these things,” Tucker said. “I just want to help make people more aware of ways they can help.”

Tucker said she and her support group are trying to coordinate with local law enforcement to talk about some of these issues so that the special needs children of Richmond County are well cared for, no matter the circumstances.

Tucker’s first meeting with the Joint Study Committee will be Feb. 3 in Raleigh.

The Richmond County Autism Support Group meets every third Saturday of the month in the third-floor auditorium at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital. The next meeting is Feb. 20.

Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.