I am curious about what resources are provided to those people who work in our community to respond to emergencies. Do they know the best ways to help our "special" citizens, or might they accidentally make things worse because of lack of training or knowledge?
I am trying to find out the answers to these questions. I always find the internet to be one good source of information and an easy place to begin finding answers.
Here is one article about some local programs:
Copy and paste this URL to read about some Maryland and Virginia counties in the D.C. area:
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/family/article/law-enforcement-training-for-autism-related1/
Here is a link to information about training for first responders:
Copy and paste this URL to read about this training program :
http://www.leanonus.org/trainings.html
This link is about a conference in North Carolina that was held for state law enforcement after a man with autism died while in police custody.
Copy and paste this link to read about it.
http://asa.confex.com/asa/2006/techprogram/S2232.HTM
This newsweek article relates several specific instances of misunderstandings that have happened when law enforcement came into contact with autistic individuals and explains how organizations and concerned citizens are trying to provide better information to officers through training.
Copy and paste this link to read more about it:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/08/is-sitting-while-autistic-a-crime.html
This link is to the Autism Society and is about pamphlets that they offer to assist first reponders and law enforcement.
Copy and paste this URL to see this information:
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_safeandsound_firstresponders
So, from my internet search, I am still not clear on what, if any, training has been provided to Maryland state officers, Montgomery county officers, or the city forces of Germantown or Gaithersburg where we would be mostly like to encounter the police. Looks like more research is needed. At least I now know that some of our country's jurisdictions are addressing this issue.
If you know more about this topic, please add your comments.
Postscript: I learned from Craig Schultz of the Autism Socieity of America, that trainings to Montgomery County, MD and Rockville, Md police have been provided by the ASA. Also, Maryland State police have had training in general mental health issues, but not specifically ASD's or developmental disabilities, but that training could be considered in the future.
ABOUT
Maryland offers "The New Directions Waiver" as a means of self-directing state and federal Medicaid dollars for individuals who qualify for supports due to their disability.
This offers the disabled individual the opportunity to use those dollars to best meet their own unique needs. However, it comes with the responsibility to create a plan, a budget, and find your own resources to make the plan a reality.
No centralized source of resources exists. The purpose of this blog is to direct others to resources in our communities and to provide one example of a self-directed plan. (*Caution: The self-directed plan described at the beginning of this blog is for an individual with a 5/5 needs rating, the highest possible rating in Maryland, and therefore the highest budget possible. Most will have a lower rating and a lower budget to work with.) It is also to share firsthand knowledge of experiences that may assist others who self-direct services.
Comments are welcome. Please share your knowledge with others.
For More Information
- Safety Harness for Use in Vehicles
- Autism and Sleep Disorders
- Solving Sleep Challenges with Autistic Children
- State by State list of resources by Autism Speaks
- Special Olympics Montgomery County MD
- Special Needs Trust Information
- Home delivery of incontinence products
- Clothing to prevent disrobing behavior
- Pathfinders for Autism; service provider listings
- Montgomery County Collaboration Council
- Sensory Integration Disorder
- The Ivymount School
- Child Find
- Adapted Aquatics
- The Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding
- Maryland New Directions Waiver
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