The world can look like a different place to people on the Autism spectrum, and police encounters are no exception.
The emergency lights, sirens, and the fear of dealing with new people are things that can cause someone on the spectrum to react differently than a non-neurodivergent person.
Tucson mom of three adult autistic children, Gina Russell, who is also on the spectrum herself, has feared these interactions and potential reactions for as long as she can remember. She’s plastered her car with stickers that warn officers someone with Autism is either on board, or driving.
The colorful stickers warn officers of possible behaviors someone on the spectrum might display during a traffic stop, and urges officer to be understanding.
Now, instead of displaying her own bumper stickers, the Arizona Department of Transportation is rolling out a new program that will help law enforcement officers and autistic drivers, like Russell, open up lines of communication and awareness before words are even spoken.
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It’s called the Blue Envelope Program, and it’s being spread across the state.
Blue envelopes can be picked up at any Arizona MVD location. A person’s registration and insurance card can be put in the envelope for safe keeping. But it also serves as a notice to law enforcement officers that the person they are dealing with might display behaviors not typical to the average driver.
The envelope also directs autistic drivers about what is going to happen during the stop, and how to handle the situation appropriately and without stress.
“It’s not a way to get out of a citation for free,” said ADOT’s Bill Lamoreaux. “But, it’s a way to start a conversation. This just helps keep the situation a calmer one.”
ADOT MVD Director Eric Jorgensen first heard about the program in Connecticut and was “extremely fascinated and intrigued to see if we could incorporate it Arizona.”
So, that’s exactly what he did.
ADOT has teamed with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the University of Arizona Police Department, and other organizations to push out the program to law enforcement agencies across Arizona.
Jorgensen said this is being done with hopes that these efforts will help simmer down what can be a potentially stressful situation for both drivers and officers alike.
Those seeking to participate in the Blue Envelope Program needn’t provide any medical records to receive a blue envelope, nor are they required to place their names on a list to receive one. It’s merely another tool to help bridge the gap between those on the spectrum and those in law enforcement, in hopes they might change their tactics as a result of knowing this information.
University of Arizona Police Chief Chris Olson has praised the program, and the critical education law enforcement officers will receive in regards to dealing with people on the autism spectrum.
“The Blue Envelope Program is an outstanding public safety initiative,” Olson said.
Training with local officers and volunteer drivers to simulate a traffic stop with blue envelops will be occurring throughout May.