First Responders
Autism, Law Enforcement & First Responders: Recognition, Response and Risk Management
Thursday, May 26
Presented by Autism One, Autism Society of Illinois and North East Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT).
Dennis Debbaudt and Dr. Stephen Shore
Thursday, May 26, 2011: 8:15 am – 3:30 pm
The Westin Lombard Hotel
70 Yorktown Center, Lombard, Illinois 60148
Register: First Responders register HERE. Your registration code is FR.
Training session will be supported with handouts, video and video clip illustrations throughout the day.
Course Description by Dennis Debbaudt 2011
Today's training is designed so that you will come away with a good, practical understanding of effective approaches when interacting with individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD). You may know someone with ASD in your family or families of friends and co-workers. As law enforcement, fire-rescue, emergency medical and criminal justice professionals, you are likely to have contact with children and adults who have autism spectrum disorders.
This training will also offer a thorough review of current trends, tips, training options, and video tools that can help you implement autism instruction at your agency.
Today’s instructors will present information for law enforcement, fire-rescue and emergency medical services (EMS) professionals that illustrate autism related dispatches and field situations while offering tips, options and special tactics designed to enhance communications and manage sensory influences that can cause behavioral outbursts in the field.
The training will also focus on persons with ASD who may become involved in the criminal justice system as offenders, victims or witnesses. Persons with ASD will have difficulty understanding the nuance of verbal and nonverbal communications and social interaction. They are perfect targets for victimization such as verbal and physical intimidation and abuse; sexual abuse and manipulative efforts to engage them in criminal activity. Participants will learn techniques that will improve communications, avoid confusion and help adjust environmental settings to accommodate this population in interview and courtroom settings. Your next case may involve ASD. Are you prepared?
You are encouraged to take notes and ask questions. Your instructors will answer every question or refer you to resources when they cannot. Today's handouts supplement information contained in the Autism & Law Enforcement Roll Call Briefing, Autism, Fire-Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Autism in the Criminal Justice System videos and Debbaudt and Shore articles and books. The videos and handouts are designed to illustrate basic behaviors and characteristics of children and adults who have ASD. They will also illustrate tips and strategies that can help you safely manage predictable ASD related field and interview situations.
Schedule
Morning
8:15 am - 8:50 am: Registration
8:50 - 9:00 am: Opening remarks and Introductions (NEMRT-John Haley)
9:00 am - 10:30 am (with 5-7 minute stretch break at mid point)
Training session objectives
Why should first responders recognize autism?
What is autism?
Incidence
ASD: a spectrum condition
Public safety risks
Criminal justice risks
How you will know person has autism?
Icons of autism
Disclosure
Suggested responses
Verbal & non-verbal communications
Is sensory over-stimulation a factor in your response?
10:50 am - noon (with 5-7 minute stretch break)
Deescalation of behavior
Restraint
Arrest & custody
Dangerous wandering
Registry programs and tracking technology
ID and informational handouts
Developing a checklist for 911 Systems
Search & rescue tips
Emergency medical tips
Morning summary and Q & A
11:50 am - 1:00 pm Lunch break
1:00 pm to 1:50
Offender Trends
Interview & interrogation
Processing information
Communication dilemmas
Tips for interviewer/interrogator
Finding communication success
1:50 pm - 2: 10 pm (Break)
2:10 PM to 3:30 PM (with stretch break)
People with autism: perfect victims
Criminal gangs
Verbal & physical intimidation
Adult care facilities
Sexual victimization
Investigation of disclosures of abuse or victimization
Victim-witness interview tips
Partnerships: Law Enforcement, schools, parents
Life skills safety education for persons with ASD
Programs to consider
Training summary
Q & A and discussion
