Twin Cities Police Officers Receive Autism Training
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police officers in Minnesota get training for almost any type of emergency. Now, the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) is offering a unique class to law enforcement officers across the Twin Cities on what to expect when they encounter a person with autism.
"If they are approached by somebody, acting out, having a meltdown or not understanding a situation, they don't have the cognitive ability to say, 'I have autism, I need you to ask me simple questions,'" says Dawn Brasch of the AuSM. She teaches the first responders how to avoid misunderstandings with those with autism.
In an encounter with police, a person with autism may make eye contact, may freeze and not talk at all, or become fixated on an officer's badge and weapons.
"These types of things happen all the time, because there is no sense of safety and what's appropriate," Brasch explains.
Autism is now the fastest growing disability in Minnesota, with one in every 68 children diagnosed, according to the AuSM. As those kids get older, the challenges the face change, including encounters with emergency responders.
"But when they get to be 6'2" and 250 pounds, this interaction is going to be so different," says Brasch. "We want our kids to be safe, we want our police and firefighters to be safe."