A blue bag filled with sensory tools developed by an Indiana firefighter is making a big impact in emergency situations. Ben’s Blue Bags, an initiative inspired by 10-year-old Ben Kodicek, is helping first responders communicate with and comfort children on the autism spectrum, ABC 7 reports.
Each bag contains items like Rubik’s cubes, fidget spinners, bouncing balls, and even a special pain map to help nonverbal children express where they are hurt. These tools are designed to reduce anxiety and improve interactions between emergency personnel and autistic individuals.
Capt. Matt Kodicek, co-founder of Ben’s Blue Bags and Ben’s father, saw a gap in how emergency responders assisted neurodivergent individuals.
Since its launch, over 1,000 Ben’s Blue Bags have been distributed across the United States and Canada. The program is expanding, with growing interest from school bus drivers and educators who work with special needs children.
