Monmouth County Launches Special Needs Registry To Aid Emergency Responses

In an emergency, every second counts. It's why 9-1-1 operators try to gather as much information as they can while first responders are on their way to an incident.

Now, first responders throughout Monmouth County will have another resource at their fingertips: a voluntary program allows citizens with special needs and their families to notify authorities about those needs -- providing details that may mean the difference between a rescue and a tragedy.

The Monmouth County Special Needs Registry, announced Wednesday by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden aims to provide first responders with vital information they need about citizens in the community with special needs to better assist them; and improve relationships between law enforcement, first responders, and the special needs community, the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

“This comprehensive, voluntary program is a proactive approach to aid and assist all citizens who live, work or go to school in Monmouth County, but who may have special needs that if known to first responders, can help us better assist them in an emergency,” Gramiccioni said. “All information is strictly confidential and for use by first responders under emergency circumstances.”

“If (a 9-1-1) call involves a registered special needs individual, the information provided through the registry will automatically appear on the screen. The public safety telecommunicator will know if someone is oxygen-dependent, if a person is disabled, has PTSD or autism, and will dispatch that information to the first responders,” Golden said.

About 10 percent of Monmouth County’s population can be characterized as having special needs, according to the latest Census figures, the release said, accounting for more than 60,000 people in the county.

Officials said that some of the ways the registry could work include:

• If a person experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could be negatively impacted by the sounds of loud sirens or flashing lights, first responders can now be alerted to that fact before they are on scene so as not to exacerbate the situation and arrive under quieter conditions in an effort to maintain calm.
• If an elderly resident uses a wheelchair or has trouble hearing or is affected by dementia, first responders can adjust their response plan in an emergency accordingly from the moment 9-1-1 is contacted.
• If a registrant with autism were to be reported missing, the registry provides current photographs to first responders immediately. The photographs can be utilized and disseminated quickly to aid in search efforts.

“Imagine a child with autism goes missing who is naturally drawn to nearby bodies of water. Having that type of information in hand before arriving and jumping into action to find the child helps get that search of on a track towards success much earlier and hopefully averts a tragedy,” Gramiccioni said.

The registry, which has been operating in Eatontown, Monmouth Beach, Ocean Township, Sea Bright and Tinton Falls, is open to any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity due to a physical or intellectual disability, officials said. It is open to both permanent and seasonal residents of the county, students at the county's colleges or residential schools, as well as anyone who works in the county.

“As a committed advocate to this cause, it’s been my priority to be in the forefront when it comes to assisting individuals with special needs,” Golden said. “Through our agency, more than 500 members of law enforcement have been trained on how to respond to those with special needs. The launch of this registry is another vital tool ... to address this serious subject.”

Anyone can register by visiting the website of the Monmouth County Special Needs Registry at www.mcsnrnj.org and providing pertinent information about any special needs individuals within their household. The information collected by the registry is strictly for use by first responders, officials said.

(A 9-1-1 operator at work at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Call Center. Photo courtesy Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)