Dec. 3—Two police departments in suburban Dayton recently began offering a tool to help drivers with autism better communicate with police if they become involved in a traffic stop.
The blue envelopes contain instructions for both the driver and the police officer conducting the stop. This includes reminders to the officer about stimuli that could distract the driver, and warnings to the driver in case of sudden movements. They also include a checkbox to indicate whether the driver is verbal or non-verbal.
The Centerville and Vandalia police departments said they introduced the program in November after a resident of each department’s jurisdiction suggested it based on the fact that it was being used in other police departments nationwide.
The envelope can be filled with important vehicle documentation, including a contact card, car insurance card, registration certificate and a copy of a driver’s license.
The program is seen as beneficial for both community safety and officer training, according to Officer Ryan Turner, spokesman for the Centerville Police Department, who posted about the envelopes on Facebook on Nov. 18.
“It not only keeps people safe out there, but officers as well. How do we deal with situations where it is unknown to them, and unknown to us,” Turner told this news channel.
The American Psychiatric Association notes that there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms that people with autism experience, but that common problems may include repetitive behaviors and difficulties communicating and interacting with other people.
Vandalia, which shared on November 5 that it was implementing the measure, will also hold an open discussion about autism and police starting on Wednesday, December 4 at 6 p.m.
The event will feature a question-and-answer session and is intended to help address what police can do better and what people with autism may encounter when talking to police, said Rich Sommer, Vandalia crime prevention officer.
The blue envelopes can be picked up at any police station, Vandalia’s at 245 James E. Bohanan Drive and Centerville’s at 155 W. Spring Valley Pike.
Washington Twp. Resident Alicia Debevec, whose son is autistic, said she saw the Vandalia police post and forwarded it to Centerville police suggesting they do the same.
“It’s pretty amazing how quickly they took that feedback and put it into practice,” Debevec said.
