IF YOU WERE TO RUN INTO A PERSON WITH AUTISM ON "THE JOB" WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO????
The rate of occurrence of autism has increased in the past ten years from 2 to 6 in ten thousand persons, to 2-6 in one thousand persons. Persons with autism and other developmental disabilities are estimated to have up to seven times more contacts with law enforcement agencies during their lifetimes (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services News In Print, Winter, 1993). You can expect to have an increasing number of interactions with them. Interacting with a child or adult who has an autism spectrum disorder will challenge your experience and training.
People with autism are as different from each other as we all are. Persons with autism will present the behaviors and characteristics described at this website and elsewhere in different combinations and degrees. Each person will have a different level of independence as well. Some persons with autism will have a caregiver with them at all times. Others will live semi or fully independent lives. You will hear terms such as low functioning autism, high functioning autism, and Asperger's syndrome to describe the condition. In most cases, the person will have difficulties, following verbal commands, reading your body language, and have deficits in social understanding
You will meet people with autism anywhere in the community, but be prepared to respond to children and adults who will wander away, very much like some Alzheimer's patients. Other common responses will be to persons who are in a neighborhood or location where they are unknown to others and display unusual behaviors, at retail settings, and at schools.
Law enforcement agencies can proactively train their sworn workforce, especially trainers, patrol supervisors, and school resource officers, to recognize the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of a child or adult who has autism, and learn basic response techniques.
A training program should be designed to allow officers to better protect and serve the public (and go home safe to your families), make the best use of your valuable time, and avoid mistakes that can lead to lawsuits and their negative trappings-media scrutiny, loss of confidence from the community, morale problems, and lifelong trauma for all involved. A good autism recognition and response workshop is designed to inform law enforcement professionals about the risks associated with autism, and will offer suggestions and options about how to address those risks.
Included in those risks are:
Behaviors that draw attention
A misinterpretation of those behaviors and characteristics as evidence of drug abuse or psychosis, defiance or belligerence, or criminal behavior or activity
Person may lack fear of real dangers
Person may not recognize uniform, badge or police vehicle or understand what is expected of them if they do
Inherent condition may present as misleading indicators of guilt such as a lack of eye contact, an apparent aloof and indifferent manner, will change topic of conversation
Responders not being aware of associated medical conditions such as seizure disorder, asthma, or low muscle tone
Sensory sensitivity issues that may produce fight or flight reaction
Basic verbal and nonverbal communication difficulties
Restraint issues such as hypotonia, high tolerance for pain, mechanical asphyxia will require alternate restraint options and techniques
Un-addressed or high tolerance for bullying, teasing, taunting and torment in school settings, especially for those with higher functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome who are in regular education classrooms
Dilemmas in the interrogation room including possibility of false confession or misleading statements
High likelihood of victimization; lack credibility as victim-witness, will require alternate victim-witness interview techniques
Autism issues remain un-addressed in standard police officer training programs
In any case in which a person is found to have autism and is taken into custody, it is critical for the first responder to follow procedure and document that he or she has learned that the person has autism.
If in custody, persons with autism may be at risk if housed with the general prison population. Ask jail authorities to segregate persons with autism from the general prison population and seek counsel from the prosecuting attorney and an evaluation from a qualified health professional.
People with autism are as different from each other as we all are. Persons with autism will present the behaviors and characteristics described at this website and elsewhere in different combinations and degrees. Each person will have a different level of independence as well. Some persons with autism will have a caregiver with them at all times. Others will live semi or fully independent lives. You will hear terms such as low functioning autism, high functioning autism, and Asperger's syndrome to describe the condition. In most cases, the person will have difficulties, following verbal commands, reading your body language, and have deficits in social understanding
You will meet people with autism anywhere in the community, but be prepared to respond to children and adults who will wander away, very much like some Alzheimer's patients. Other common responses will be to persons who are in a neighborhood or location where they are unknown to others and display unusual behaviors, at retail settings, and at schools.
Law enforcement agencies can proactively train their sworn workforce, especially trainers, patrol supervisors, and school resource officers, to recognize the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of a child or adult who has autism, and learn basic response techniques.
A training program should be designed to allow officers to better protect and serve the public (and go home safe to your families), make the best use of your valuable time, and avoid mistakes that can lead to lawsuits and their negative trappings-media scrutiny, loss of confidence from the community, morale problems, and lifelong trauma for all involved. A good autism recognition and response workshop is designed to inform law enforcement professionals about the risks associated with autism, and will offer suggestions and options about how to address those risks.
Included in those risks are:
Behaviors that draw attention
A misinterpretation of those behaviors and characteristics as evidence of drug abuse or psychosis, defiance or belligerence, or criminal behavior or activity
Person may lack fear of real dangers
Person may not recognize uniform, badge or police vehicle or understand what is expected of them if they do
Inherent condition may present as misleading indicators of guilt such as a lack of eye contact, an apparent aloof and indifferent manner, will change topic of conversation
Responders not being aware of associated medical conditions such as seizure disorder, asthma, or low muscle tone
Sensory sensitivity issues that may produce fight or flight reaction
Basic verbal and nonverbal communication difficulties
Restraint issues such as hypotonia, high tolerance for pain, mechanical asphyxia will require alternate restraint options and techniques
Un-addressed or high tolerance for bullying, teasing, taunting and torment in school settings, especially for those with higher functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome who are in regular education classrooms
Dilemmas in the interrogation room including possibility of false confession or misleading statements
High likelihood of victimization; lack credibility as victim-witness, will require alternate victim-witness interview techniques
Autism issues remain un-addressed in standard police officer training programs
In any case in which a person is found to have autism and is taken into custody, it is critical for the first responder to follow procedure and document that he or she has learned that the person has autism.
If in custody, persons with autism may be at risk if housed with the general prison population. Ask jail authorities to segregate persons with autism from the general prison population and seek counsel from the prosecuting attorney and an evaluation from a qualified health professional.
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