The Autism News | English
By KHBS NW Arkansas
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Police in the area say they regularly interact with people with disabilities, including autism.
But many officers said not having a proper understanding of the disability sometimes makes it difficult for them to do their jobs.
That’s why law enforcement officials from all over the state met Monday in Springdale for a special seminar on what autism is and how to work with individuals with autism.
When police officers arrive at a scene, they need to be able to assess the situation, and that includes anyone who might be there when they arrive. A big part of that is recognizing those who might be autistic.
Lt. Will Dawson from the Greenwood Police Department said, “I didn’t know that it affects one out of every 110 people.”
Dawson was one of many area law enforcement officers learning about the disability at Friday’s seminar.
“It’s to help us understand and recognize when we’re dealing with autistic people,” Dawson said.
The class was taught by Dennis Debbaudt, a nationally renowned autism expert whose own son is autistic.
“There were times when he would have a behavior meltdown out in a public place and we’d have to leave that public place with him, but the people who observed this were now calling 911 and reporting child abduction,” Debbaudt said.
On Friday, Debbaudt explained that some things normally associated with law enforcement, such as bright lights or sirens, can provoke a negative reaction from a person with autism. He said knowing simple things like that will help officers do a better job of both protecting, and obtaining information from people who are autistic.
Officers learned that people with autism are more likely to become involved with law enforcement officers than those who are not autistic, though people with autism are generally more likely to be a victim rather than a suspect.
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