Autism AwarenessFor

Law Enforcement Professionals

& Community Service Personnel

Presented by Barb Fogarty Autism ConsultantMSD of Lawrence Township Schools

Autism and Autism and Community Issues: Community Issues: Law Enforcement Law Enforcement and Community and Community

Service PersonnelService Personnel

AUTISMAUTISM

Autism is a neurological disability that is Autism is a neurological disability that is lifelong. Autism seriously affects the lifelong. Autism seriously affects the communication, social, and decision-making communication, social, and decision-making skills. Autism may be mild allowing the person skills. Autism may be mild allowing the person to speak or it can be severe preventing the to speak or it can be severe preventing the individual from using words. Persons with individual from using words. Persons with Autism can range in abilities from profound Autism can range in abilities from profound mental retardation to superior intellectual mental retardation to superior intellectual abilities.abilities.

AUTISM SPECTRUM

PASSIVE

SEVEREMILD

IQ

Severe/Profound

Moderate Mild Normal Gifted

Autism may affect as many as 1 per 150 people.Autism may affect as many as 1 per 150 people.

It is four times more likely to occur in males than It is four times more likely to occur in males than in females. in females.

Autism has no boundaries, it is found throughout Autism has no boundaries, it is found throughout the world in all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic the world in all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic families.families.

A police officer may encounter a A police officer may encounter a person with Autism because person with Autism because

they:they: Impulsively escape from home, moving Impulsively escape from home, moving

bus, school, etc., in search of their bus, school, etc., in search of their ““MMissionission””

NNeed for solitude,eed for solitude,Desire to run,Desire to run,

Buy a video,Buy a video,Get a coke from Wal-Get a coke from Wal-

Mart, or a hamburger at Mart, or a hamburger at White CastleWhite Castle

Need to leave their previous location Need to leave their previous location (too loud or bright, too crowded)(too loud or bright, too crowded)

Become upset if things change from Become upset if things change from their routine their routine (new caregiver, school, or (new caregiver, school, or environment, different route by bus or environment, different route by bus or car, wearing different shoes)car, wearing different shoes)

Show no fear of obvious community Show no fear of obvious community danger danger (moving vehicles, manhole (moving vehicles, manhole covers, construction sites, etc.)covers, construction sites, etc.)

May not obey traffic signals or be aware May not obey traffic signals or be aware of pedestriansof pedestrians

If a person with Autism becomes injured during any If a person with Autism becomes injured during any of these, EMS/community service personnel may of these, EMS/community service personnel may encounter them.encounter them.

Autism and Law Enforcement Autism and Law Enforcement Roll Call Briefing VideoRoll Call Briefing Video

Dennis Debbaudt produced this video. He is a Dennis Debbaudt produced this video. He is a former professional investigator, who turned his former professional investigator, who turned his attention to autism spectrum disorders in 1987 attention to autism spectrum disorders in 1987 after his son was diagnosed with this condition.after his son was diagnosed with this condition.

Video features 15 children and young adults at Video features 15 children and young adults at various points on the autism spectrum. various points on the autism spectrum.

It offers tips and options for communication and It offers tips and options for communication and responses designed to successfully resolve a call responses designed to successfully resolve a call involving a a person with autisminvolving a a person with autism

When police officers and community When police officers and community service personnel first encounter an service personnel first encounter an individual with Autism, the person may:individual with Autism, the person may:

Invade your personal space Invade your personal space (stand too close, (stand too close, blow, lick, spit)blow, lick, spit)

May repeat words, body language, or mimic May repeat words, body language, or mimic emotional state of an officeremotional state of an officer

Appear deaf when spoken to and unable to Appear deaf when spoken to and unable to respond to requestsrespond to requests

Respond to requests by laughing, giggling, or Respond to requests by laughing, giggling, or repeating repeating (“echo”)(“echo”) any requests any requests

Become upset / tantrum, unable to make their Become upset / tantrum, unable to make their needs knownneeds known

Never lie but be unable to retell facts, Never lie but be unable to retell facts, events, or detailsevents, or details

Give little or no eye contact even upon Give little or no eye contact even upon request / demandrequest / demand

Be sensitive / upset from lights, sounds / Be sensitive / upset from lights, sounds / sirens, being touchedsirens, being touched

Carry object(s) for comfort / security or Carry object(s) for comfort / security or need to manipulate themneed to manipulate them

Have extremely high threshold for pain and Have extremely high threshold for pain and may be able to escape holds, handcuffs, and may be able to escape holds, handcuffs, and restraintsrestraints

May be nonverbal or may communicate May be nonverbal or may communicate with sign language or picture cards or with sign language or picture cards or use gesturing or pointing.use gesturing or pointing.

May not respond to “Stop” command, May not respond to “Stop” command, may run or move away when may run or move away when approached, may cover ears and look approached, may cover ears and look away constantly.away constantly.

May not respond to an order or others May not respond to an order or others may drop to the ground and rock back may drop to the ground and rock back and forthand forth

May toe-walk or have clumsy gait.May toe-walk or have clumsy gait. 40% of individuals with autism have 40% of individuals with autism have

seizuresseizures

May appear as high on drugs, drunk May appear as high on drugs, drunk or having a psychotic episode.or having a psychotic episode.

May react to sudden changes in May react to sudden changes in routine with escalation of repetitive routine with escalation of repetitive behavior such as spinning, hand behavior such as spinning, hand flapping, pacing, screaming, hitting flapping, pacing, screaming, hitting self, etc.self, etc.

May attempt to present with an May attempt to present with an information card; may wear medical information card; may wear medical alert jewelry or have information alert jewelry or have information sewn or imprinted on clothes.sewn or imprinted on clothes.

May not recognize police vehicle, May not recognize police vehicle, badge, or uniform or understand badge, or uniform or understand what is expected of them if they do.what is expected of them if they do.

May appear argumentative, May appear argumentative, stubborn or belligerent; may say stubborn or belligerent; may say “No!” in response to all questions; “No!” in response to all questions; may ask “Why?” incessantlymay ask “Why?” incessantly

May be poor listeners May be poor listeners May use passive, monotone voicesMay use passive, monotone voices May have difficulty using correct May have difficulty using correct

volumevolume

May perseverate on favorite topicsMay perseverate on favorite topics May have difficulty in seeing things May have difficulty in seeing things

from a different point of view or from a different point of view or predicting other persons’ reaction predicting other persons’ reaction to them.to them.

May have difficulty understanding May have difficulty understanding social situations, cues, and social situations, cues, and responses.responses.

Maybe attracted to shinny objects Maybe attracted to shinny objects and reach for badge, radio, keys, and reach for badge, radio, keys, belt buckle or weaponbelt buckle or weapon

When police officers and community service When police officers and community service personnel respond to a person with Autism personnel respond to a person with Autism they should: they should:

Talk in short, direct phrases Talk in short, direct phrases (“Stand up”, “Go to (“Stand up”, “Go to car”, “Sit”).car”, “Sit”).

Phrase directions in the positivePhrase directions in the positive (“Hold still.”). (“Hold still.”). Avoid giving directions in the negativeAvoid giving directions in the negative (“Stop (“Stop struggling.”).struggling.”).

Use a calm, even voice Use a calm, even voice (talking louder will increase (talking louder will increase stress and decrease understanding)stress and decrease understanding)

Remain calm keeping a safe distance when Remain calm keeping a safe distance when individual’s behavior escalates individual’s behavior escalates

Allow the individual several seconds to Allow the individual several seconds to understand and process request.understand and process request.

Model expected behavior Model expected behavior (hands on car, (hands on car, behind you)behind you)

Avoid expressions with other meanings: Avoid expressions with other meanings: (“Spread eagle”, “Are you pulling my (“Spread eagle”, “Are you pulling my leg?” “waive your right?”)leg?” “waive your right?”)

Person may not understand your Person may not understand your defensive posture/body language. defensive posture/body language. Use low gestures for attention; avoid Use low gestures for attention; avoid rapid pointing or waving; tell person rapid pointing or waving; tell person you are not going to hurt themyou are not going to hurt them

Avoid behaviors and language that Avoid behaviors and language that may appear threateningmay appear threatening

Look and wait for response and/or Look and wait for response and/or eye contact when comfortable, ask to eye contact when comfortable, ask to “look at me”; don’t interpret limited “look at me”; don’t interpret limited eye contact as deceit or disrespecteye contact as deceit or disrespect

If possible, avoid touching the person, If possible, avoid touching the person, especially near shoulders and head.especially near shoulders and head.

Avoid stopping repetitive behaviors Avoid stopping repetitive behaviors unless self-injurious or risk of injury to unless self-injurious or risk of injury to yourself or others.yourself or others.

Evaluate for injury. Person may not Evaluate for injury. Person may not ask for help or show any indication of ask for help or show any indication of pain; even though injury seems pain; even though injury seems apparent.apparent.

If possible, turn off sirens and If possible, turn off sirens and flashing lights and remove canine flashing lights and remove canine partners or other sensory partners or other sensory stimulation from scene.stimulation from scene.

Consider use of sign language, or Consider use of sign language, or picture, or phrase books.picture, or phrase books.

AApproachpproach the person in a quiet, non-threatening manner.the person in a quiet, non-threatening manner.

UUnderstand nderstand that touching the person with autism may that touching the person with autism may cause the protective “fight or flight” reaction.cause the protective “fight or flight” reaction.

TTalk alk to the person in a moderated and calm voice.to the person in a moderated and calm voice.

IInstructionsnstructions should be simple and direct, avoiding slang.should be simple and direct, avoiding slang.

SSeekeek all indicators to evaluate the situation as it is all indicators to evaluate the situation as it is unfolding unfolding and be willing to adjust your actions and be willing to adjust your actions accordingly.accordingly.

MMaintainaintain a safe distance until any inappropriate behaviors a safe distance until any inappropriate behaviors lessen but remain alert to the possibility of outbursts lessen but remain alert to the possibility of outbursts or impulsive acts.or impulsive acts.

(Debbaudt and Rothman 2001)(Debbaudt and Rothman 2001)

If a police officer suspects an individual may have If a police officer suspects an individual may have Autism, they should be isolated from the general Autism, they should be isolated from the general incarcerated population.incarcerated population.

Request a mental health professional to evaluate Request a mental health professional to evaluate them. In addition to their Autism the individual them. In addition to their Autism the individual may have medication issues, seizures, or other may have medication issues, seizures, or other medical conditions that may require attention.medical conditions that may require attention.

Thank You!