First responders learn best way to interact and respond o individuals with autism
Story on NTV: https://nebraska.tv/news/local/central-ne-first-responders-learn-how-to-interact-and-respond-to-individuals-with-autism-kids-and-dreams-foundation-autism-action-partnership-kearney
Teaching first responders what autism is, and what it isn’t, the Autism Action Partnership and Kids and Dreams Foundation are raising awareness of how important it is for police officers to know how to respond to individuals on the spectrum, and other intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Autism Action Partnership is focused on improving the quality of life for those on the autism spectrum and their families. They do that through programs and workshops like the one on Wednesday. Kids and Dreams Foundation was created nine years ago to provide support to kids on the spectrum and kids who experience bullying.
In 2018, the Autism Action Partnership did a workshop like this one in the Omaha area, they had the opportunity to work with the creator of "Be Safe", Emily Iland. This is the first time these organizations hosted a training on autism in central Nebraska.
"We have officers here from Gothenburg, Kearney, Lexington, Merrick County. We are very pleased with the reach of the registrants, and really that's all thanks to Kids and Dreams Foundation," said Autism Action Partnership Sr. Director of Programs Michaela Ahrens.
Fairfield resident Krista Calderon has a 13-year-old autistic son. She said she is glad efforts are being made to make these interactions possible.
“It makes them feel safer, like if a parent for some reason has to go in an ambulance, it kind of helps them know what’s going to happen," Calderon said. "They see people in suits and that can be a little scary for kids."
In the first portion of the training, the first responders learned many facts about the autism spectrum. They also learned things like what an individual on the autism spectrum would do in an emergency situation. They also heard tips for when they interact with a person with autism.
The first responders saw a video on what not to do if they encounter an autistic individual. They also did different activities on how someone on the spectrum experience the world.
After having a lunch all together, the second portion of the workshop, "Be Safe" started. With that part of the workshop, first responders interacted with individuals on the spectrum.
“Individuals with autism have social and communication impairments that can present like other things, like non-compliance. It looks like drug-abuse, it looks like a mental health crisis, and so this [training] just gives them another lens, another way to look at situations they may come upon that may involve an autistic individual," Ahrens said.
“It’s so important for not only the individuals with autism to get familiar with first responders, but also for police officers and first responders to just be aware of some of the things they might face," said Founder and Executive Director of Kids & Dreams Foundation Aaron Bly.
School Resource Officer at the Lexington Police Department (LPD) Kareem McDougall said the agency receives at least three to five calls a month about someone on the spectrum.
“I start by saying my name is Kareem, I'm here to help you, what can I do to help you today?" McDougall said. "Often times if they feel intimidated by the uniform, I sit down with them on the ground and ask, 'what can I help with?' I think a key thing for them to know we are here to help them and that we won’t get them in trouble, because that’s often their fear."
Ahrens said the request for training first responders on this topic keeps increasing.
“I already had some police officers reach out and say ‘please let us know when you are doing one in our area, we can’t make it to Kearney,'” she said.
She added that Autism Action Partnership is always looking for opportunities to reached out to more people outside the Omaha area. Bly said Kids and Dreams Foundation would love to partner again and find more locations for more trainings.