If your friend needs more information for supports for Autism check with San Diego Regional Center and Autism Support of Imperial County. I was never told to get an ID for my child. However, I do suggest a Road ID tag for child to wear on them in case of emergency/child walks away unnoticed.
My son is autistic, 7yo, and has an ICE tag on his shoe. We got ours from Road ID but there are plenty of providers of ID bracelets out there. A state ID is not needed but there is a national program that is available to all children that allows the parents to keep on file a current photo and fingerprints, of their kids, to provide to authorities in case of separation. Have the parents contact the public library, they have useful information and services geared towards those on the autistic spectrum.
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