Law enforcement and autism: a need for two communities to work together
by Patricia
The prevalence of autism has increased dramatically. With as many as one in 150 individuals in the Unites States experiencing autism, it’s likely that law enforcement professionals will encounter an individual with autism. Effective training is needed for both the law enforcement professionals and for individuals with autism to ensure that these encounters do not escalate into unnecessary violence.
The media is full of stories of individuals with autism and violent encounters with the police. In my hometown of Chicago a story was reported recently. This story is replete with training needs on both sides. The police officers were not able to identify signs of autism, and the young man with autism was unable to interact successfully with the police. Clearly there is opportunity for improvement.
There are several programs that have been developed to increase autism awareness for law enforcement. The Autism Society of America has a free resource for law enforcement (PDF). Dennis Debbaudt is a leading expert in law enforcement training and has dedicated his career to promoting safety for individuals with autism. Debbaudt’s website is ripe with resources for first responders.
Educators and parents must also take on the responsibility of supporting individuals with autism to develop the skills necessary to interact with law enforcement. Individuals with autism typically require direct instruction to learn new skills. Throughout childhood and youth, individuals with autism must be taught the skills of interacting with law enforcement professionals (e.g. not running away from them, keeping hands out of pockets). Debbaudt has a great resource to help guide this learning process (PDF).
I would like to think that people who choose law enforcement as a career do so because they are dedicated to keeping our communities safe. I also believe that individuals with autism can learn skills that allow them to successfully engage in community life. Training is needed, for both the law enforcement and autism communities.