Autism Awareness Program To Help Woodridge Cops, Residents

WOODRIDGE, IL — Woodridge Police now offer a new training program to help officers stay informed about residents who are on the autism spectrum. The Autism Recognition Alert Program aims to foster a relationship between law enforcement and people with autism, so police can better address an autistic person's needs in the event of an emergenccy.

Family members and caregivers of people with autism can register their loved ones in a system that officers can access in the event that they pull over or respond to a call about one of these individuals. Those with autism can also get an identification card that shows police they are a person with autism and includes emergency contact information for loved ones.

This type of system may be especially useful if police are working with a resident who has nonverbal autism.

"An active partnership will help reduce the anxiety people with autism experience with everyday police encounters and during critical incidents. This program will also help improve police officer awareness and response to people with autism," Woodridge Police said on their website.

Visit theVillage of Woodridge website for more information on the Autism Recognition Alert Program.

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