Law Enforcement
Safety on the Spectrum™ Training
The Safety on the Spectrum™: Law Enforcement training is a nationwide effort by the Autism Society of America and participating affiliates, including the Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) to improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals with Autism. Utilizing ASGA’s Stop. Assess. Support. Model, the course outlines how to pause to recognize a difference in a person or situation, assess situations by learning about the characteristics of Autism, and provide support(s) by using Autism-informed strategies.
ASGA is a member of the Autism Society of America’s (ASA) Safety Task Force, a collaboration with ASA, The Arc, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), affiliates, and other stakeholders, Safety on the Spectrum’s™ goal is to lead a national public education and awareness campaign to identify and develop best practice guidance to support first responders, policymakers, and community leaders that improve public safety for individuals with Autism, developmental disabilities, and Alzheimer’s communities.
Through the Kevin and Avonte grant awarded to ASGA by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, ASGA’s training also raises awareness and understanding of wandering and resulting drownings among individuals with a diagnosis of Autism, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and other developmental disabilities.
If your law enforcement agency is interested in receiving the Safety on the Spectrum™: Law Enforcement training, please click the button below and complete the form.
Resources for Law Enforcement
Approximately 1 in 5 young adults with Autism will interact with a police officer before the age of 21. Too many of these interactions result in devastating outcomes due to a lack of training on what Autism is and how to de-escalate emergencies with Autistic individuals. One important resource is ASGA’s “What is Autism?” one-pager which can help law enforcement know pertinent information on Autism. Some of the interactions with law enforcement will be because of wandering or elopement. Many individuals with Autism who wander are also drawn to water. This has led to many accidental drownings in the Autism Community with children and adults with Autism. ASGA’s Wandering Resource one-pager is another resource to learn more about wandering or elopement.
Wandering will not be the only calls law enforcement will receive when assisting individuals with Autism. Autistic individuals are more likely to be victims of crimes and will interact with law enforcement through calls for assistance. Together, we can improve community relations, prevent misunderstandings, and ensure the safety and well-being of all involved. The Interacting with Law Enforcement resource is one officers can read to learn how individuals with Autism communicate and interact with others. When arriving at someone’s home or pulling over a vehicle, having a safety Autism decal on the window can be helpful. One resource where officers can help caregivers and individuals with Autism is a safety decal like the example below from ASGA. During times of stress, such as interactions with law enforcement, the communication of individuals with Autism can diminish. Using an Emergency Communication Board can help law enforcement communicate with individuals with Autism.
When interacting with caregivers, providers, schools, or individuals with Autism, having a list of resources in your toolkit is helpful. Lists of legal assistance, advocacy, and more are in the ASGA Legal Resource one-pager. Many agencies on the list can help individuals with Autism find legal and victim assistance in the local area/state of Ohio.
This website is funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).
The safety resources and toolkits for Safety on the Spectrum™ were funded in part or in whole through a grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation. FirstEnergy does not operate, control, is responsible for, or necessarily endorses, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).
