Step 1
Slow down first
Some messages try to make you hurry. Hurry is the trick.
What to do: Put the phone down. Count to ten. Then read it again.
You are done when: you have read it twice.
Compass
Compass is for learners on the spectrum.
This page is quiet on purpose. Nothing moves. Nothing pops up. Everything stays in the same place.
What to expect
What this page will do
- It will tell you what is next before it happens.
- It will use short sentences.
- It will not move or flash.
- It will not ask you to hurry.
How Compass works
Compass teaches the same safety skills as the rest of Higher Ground. The order is fixed. You always know where you are.
- One idea at a time. Each step has one idea. You finish it, then you go on.
- The same shape every time. Every step says what it is, what to do, and how you know you are done.
- You choose the pace. There is no timer. You can stop and come back.
- You can always go back. Nothing is locked. Nothing is lost.
Next section
Next you will read the six Compass steps. Each one is short.
The six Compass steps
Read one step. Then stop if you want to.
Step 2
Check who it really is
A name on a screen can be copied. A voice can be copied too.
What to do: Contact the person a second way. Use a number you already had.
You are done when: the person confirms it another way, or you decide not to reply.
Step 3
Take a picture of the screen
A screenshot helps an adult help you. Take it before you block anyone.
What to do: Screenshot the message. Screenshot the profile. Note the time.
You are done when: you have both pictures saved.
Step 4
Tell one trusted person
Telling is the hardest step. It is also the most useful one.
You are not in trouble for telling. That is a promise from the adults who wrote this.
What to do: Say one sentence. “Something happened online and I want help.”
You are done when: one trusted person knows.
Step 5
Make the account safe
Do this with your trusted person. Not alone.
What to do: Change the password. Sign out everywhere. Turn on a second step for signing in.
You are done when: all three are finished.
Step 6
Say what you need next
After a scare you may need quiet. You may need company. Both are fine.
What to do: Tell your trusted person one thing you need.
You are done when: you have said it out loud.
If you need help right now
If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 911. Do that first. Do it before anything on this page.
If you are frightened but nobody is in danger, tell your trusted person. Then open the card that matches what happened.
For families and teachers
Compass is written for learners on the spectrum. It is not a clinical programme and it is not an assessment. It is the same safety material with a calmer page and a fixed order. Use it alongside a trusted adult, at whatever pace suits the learner.
Compass pages reduce motion, keep every element in the same position, and avoid sudden changes. If your device is set to reduce motion, this site follows that setting everywhere.