In The Politics of Autism, I discuss interactions between first responders and autistic people. Some jurisdictions allow autistic drivers to ask for a blue envelope to disclose the driver's diagnosis in case of an accident or traffic stop. Others have ID cards.
Lauren Jones at The Henrico [VA] Citizen:
A bill aimed at enhancing professional development opportunities for school employees and healthcare professionals working with students with autism spectrum disorder passed the Senate and House unanimously.
SB1293 , proposed by Sen. William Stanley, R-Franklin County, directs the Board of Education to provide guidance and optional yearly training for staff who regularly interact with students, helping them communicate with and support those with autism.
Stanley emphasized the need for the bill, noting a lack of training among educators and healthcare professionals when working with autistic students.
Christine Sloan at CBS New York:
New Jersey residents on the autism spectrum can soon apply for a designation on their driver's license or ID to help them with interactions with police.
They'll also be issued a Motor Vehicle Commission "pink card" describing their diagnosis, which must be carried with the license or ID card.
The notation will appear as the number 5 in the "Restrictions" section of an ID.
"So law enforcement, when they interact with them, they know how to treat them with respect and make sure that everyone can be treated safely," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The card includes a designation section, with boxes to check such as "autism spectrum," "communication disorder" and "disorder hearing aid." It also has a restriction section, with boxes such as "hearing impaired," "mechanical aid," "prosthetic aid" and more.
On Saturday, cops went to the Greater Phoenix Autism Society to bridge the gap between individuals with autism and local law enforcement.
Emily Iland is an autism advocate who leads similar educational initiatives across the country and helped make the "Be Safe" movie which shows different types of interactions people can have with law enforcement.
"It’s hard for people with autism to relate with the police because of the communication and social difficulties that are part of autism,” Iland said.
Grant Kirwan was a participant in the “Be Safe” program, getting paired up with a cop from Gilbert.
“My journey with autism has been a rollercoaster. I, for example, have struggled with loud noises,” Kirwan said.
