WFD's Cannata to Talk Autism Training on TODAY Show

Since 2004, Westwood Fire Captain Bill Cannata has been working tirelessly to help train emergency responders on how to deal with persons with autism during emergency situations. 

Through the Autism & Learning Enforcement Education Coalition training program (ALEC), Cannata has worked with public safety officials and emergency responders in all six New England states, as well as Minnesota, North Carolina, Washington D.C. and Texas, among other states.

But a recent trip to New York City last month, when he trained FDNY firefighters, sparked some attention from a national level. 

"NBC New York, the local affiliate, covered the story and broadcast it on the news," Cannata said. "[TODAY Show host] Matt Lauer saw it and said he'd like to do a story on what I'm doing."

As such, Cannata's efforts will be featured on NBC's TODAY Show next week. 

In fact, the segment itself was filmed right in Westwood. Show host Amy Robach visited the Westwood Fire Department between Feb. 8-10 to interview Cannata. She and NBC Producer Jim Thompson filmed several Westwood firefighters training while in town and spoke with Cannata first-hand about his experiences and efforts with his training program. 

The segment is expected to air on the Today Show next Tuesday, Feb. 28. 

But the real story focuses on ALEC, through which Cannata - whose son, Ted, has autism - has been able to bring a hybrid of personal and professional experience to the table. 

"He's my teacher," Cannata said of his 21-year-old son. "You take that balance of what I know about my son and growing up with him and what he's about, and my life experience blended together."

As such, Cannata was a perfect candidate to take part in the program, which began in 2004 at the hands of the Norfolk County District Attorney's office and Westwood-based Southern Norfolk County ARC. 

"It was a group of parents of children with autsism, first responders, and there was concern about first responders who came into contact with people with autism," Cannata said. "I was asked to participate. From that point on, we developed training programs for responding to emergencies."

Those programs are held for all levels of emergency responders, from firefighters to police officials to Emergency Management Technicians to nurses. Responders are trained specifically on how to communicate with people with autism, many of whom have verbal communication restrictions and sensory issues, Cannata said. Training also sheds light on certain behavioral issues.

"For each agency, there's a component specifically designed for their type of response," Cannata said. "In a fire department, for example, a firefighter who is a parent or relative of someone with autism will train his peers. What that brings is your professional experience and knowledge, plus your personal knowledge of autism. You have to know the job."

He added, "We feel that your peers are more apt to listen to you and not an outsider, so we created the comfort zone. It's worked out very well."

The group is currently developing online programs with the Boston Police Department as well, but will continue a strong focus on classroom-style presentations to be held at police and fire departments. 

"We like the classroom better, because we get participation," Cannata said. "It's more interactive."

But the Internet has certainly helped. Cannata said ALEC's Facebook page alone has received feedback from people all over the world. 

ALEC's mission is to ultimately train all first responders in Massachusetts. To date, 12,000 officials have been trained. 

"We still have a long way to go," Cannata said.