Comments on: NJ Bill to Promote Autism Training for First Responders

By: JRC Records Seized by State Police

JRC Records Seized by State Police — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:34:13 +0000

[...] to say, incidents like these make training about autism for police and other first responders more than essential. The Daily Press quotes a James City Police spokesman, Mike Spearsman, as [...]

By: Terry Flannery

Terry Flannery — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:50:30 +0000

With the help of the Dioug Flutie Jr Foundation and The Jamie McMurray Foundation, Durand Academy & Community Services is providing free training done at Police and Fire/EMT departmnets in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties and are getting ready to expand into other areas. Feel free to contact me ate 856-235-3540 ext. 107

By: Tased

Tased — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:23:10 +0000

[...] to 15-year-old Sir Millage in December of 2006. There’s a bill here in New Jersey to promote autism training for first responders, for emergency medical technicians, police and firefighters—–on the agenda should be [...]

By: Regan

Regan — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:19:42 +0000

Just something that you can listen to. There’s a fair amount of warm-up in the beginning.
Audio:Are you prepared for an autism emergency?
3 hrs.
Dennis Debbaudt
http://pspb.org/client/autism/Session41.mp3
Penn State National Autism Conference, Aug 2007

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:53:17 +0000

Looking into it—-thanks for the link!

By: Justthisguy

Justthisguy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:54:13 +0000

Please see the blog of Rory Miller, a cop, and the father of two autistic kids. (He admits to being a bit strange, himself)

I tried to leave a link to his post, here, but it didn’t work.

It was http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2006/12/again.html

I can’t make comments on his blog, it being a Blogger (spit!) one, but maybe La Professora could communicate with him?

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:37:33 +0000

NC may have been the first to have such a law, and IN is in progress to setting up this kind of training on a statewide basis
There was a recommendation of such training in the CA blue ribbon report.
So more states may be coming online with these measures in a codified way, but in the meantime, individual municipalities can have their own trainings and programs. The local ASA branch here organized and sponsored 3 First Responder trainings by Dennis Debbaudt for our state’s largest metropolitan areas, and continues to do followup.

By: Another Voice

Another Voice — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:12:10 +0000

It seems that New Jersey leads the other states when it comes to programs directed at caring for autism.

I wish other states would follow their lead.

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:43:07 +0000

I have had a particular interest in this because of a couple of unfortunate incidents close to home involving autistic teens.

Dennis Debbaudt has kind of pioneered autism sensitivity/awareness training for first responders and law enforcement. He also has suggestions for parents and the individuals themselves to try and prevent unfortunate situations.

Dennis Debbaudt
Police And Autism: Avoiding Unfortunate Situations
http://policeandautism.cjb.net/
Autism Risk & Safety Management
http://autismriskmanagement.com/index.html

A model of another program in MA
The Autism and Law Enforcement
Education Coalition ALEC (MA)
http://www.sncarc.org/alec.htm

I hope that the NJ program also incorporates Crisis Prevention Training, alternatives to restraint and if must be so as a last measure (as opposed to a first), safe restraint.

And just something that I found in Google books that looked interesting because it mentioned augmentative communication and how to respond to it: Dangerous Encounters– Avoiding Perilous Situations with Autism: A Streetwise Guide for all Emergency Responders, Retailers, and Parents.
(Try skimming it in Google books)

I hope that NJ develops a good program to provide first responders with reliable and ongoing training so they can interact more effectively and positively with autistic citizens.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:01:42 +0000

@chaotic idealism,

seconding your point about police needing to be briefed about nonverbal and verbal persons—