UTISM PECTRUM EWS TM A YOUR TRUSTEDS SOURCE OF SCIENCE-BASED AUTISM EDUCATION,N FALL 2015 INFORMATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES VOL. 8 NO. 2 Autism Safety: The Criminal Justice System and First Responders Both Individuals with Autism and Law Enforcement Benefit from Training By Nora Baladerian, PhD children with disabilities, Sullivan and It is my experience of over 35 years that Executive Director Knutson (2000) published their findings when police/sheriff and protective ser- The Disability and Abuse Project that children with disabilities in general vices workers begin their jobs, they do not experience abuse at 3.4 times the rate of receive training to work with individuals their generic counterparts. In 1994, Sob- with intellectual and developmental dis- hildren and adults with autism, sey’s review of studies indicated that abilities. I was recently asked to speak on like others, may in their child- adults with developmental disabilities are the training provided to Adult Protective hood or adulthood experience abused at rates ranging from 4-10 times Services workers in Los Angeles County. encounters with law enforce- that of neurotypical individuals. In the I learned that over the past 25 years there Cment. This may occur when the child/adult absence of a national survey, the Disabil- have been three announcements of a new with autism discloses abuse or their abuse ity and Abuse Project (Baladerian, Cole- online training. I took this training and is witnessed or suspected and reported man & Stream, 2012) conducted one to found that it included the words “develop- for investigation. At this sensitive point learn about prevalence as well as sequel- mentally disabled” once, and none of the in their lives, it is important not only that ae of abuse. Garnering 7,289 responses, training was directed to this population. the law enforcement, protective services, findings include that over 70% of people The entire focus was on the elder popula- and qualified forensic interviewer have with disabilities had been abused (Bala- tion. As to the other counties in California, the attitude, skills and knowledge (ASK) derian, Coleman & Stream, 2012). How- I do not know. I do know that the few peo- needed. It is also important that the child/ ever, most abuse was not reported. Sur- ple who conduct such trainings mourn the adult have information about how best to vey respondents indicated that the reason lack of training nationally. The situation is deal with the situation in which they find for not reporting was predominantly fear similar for law enforcement. Several years themselves. Whether they are a child or an Nora Baladerian, PhD that nothing would be done. Among re- ago I had a grant to provide training at no adult with an autism spectrum disorder, spondents who indicated they reported cost to law enforcement officers around whether they are brought in for suspected Abuse and trauma play a significant the abuse, over half said nothing was the state using a POST-Certified training bad behavior or as a victim of bad behav- role in the lives of those with autism done by law enforcement (full research curriculum. This training was specifically ior, some preparation is needed - or things and other developmental disabilities. In findings are available on our website at can go terribly wrong. their seminal research on abuse among www.disabilityandabuse.org). see Training on page 24 Autism, Law Enforcement and Disclosure: Advice from 20 Years in the Training Room By Dennis Debbaudt munication such as sign language, Pic- velopmental disabilities, ASD being the Managing Partner ture Exchange Communications Systems most prevalent, are approximately seven Debbaudt Legacy Productions, LLC (PECS), or computers that can speak for times more likely to interact with law en- them. If verbal, their communications may forcement than others (Curry, Posluszny & be understood only by a family member, Darska, 1993). Additionally, the estimat- dvice for the autism community caregiver, or teacher. More often than not, ed rate of occurrence of ASD has grown from law enforcement profes- they will, or should, have a caregiver ac- dramatically: from two to five of every ten sionals at training sessions over companying them and will be dependent thousand Americans in the 1980s to one in the past twenty years in training on parents, siblings, or others to provide sixty-eight (CDC, 2014). Considering this, Afacilities throughout the US, Canada and the basic necessities of life. law enforcement is now receiving training elsewhere is very consistent: accurate au- More independent young people and to prepare for contact with people with tism information, even when generic in adults may be able to fully express needs, ASD (Debbaudt & Rothman, 2001). nature, will inform their response. Infor- use public transportation, learn to drive, Field contacts regarding a suspicious per- mation that is specific to the person be- attend college or university, be employed son, aggression and missing children and comes clearly advantageous for a respond- with surprisingly powerful and profes- adults are three predictable autism related ing officer. sional careers, marry, and have children. interactions that are best described as high In the training room setting, generic in- However, they are challenged by the same risk interactions. The first two are high risk formation is extremely useful for the law issues as their less independent peers, al- for all involved, fraught with communica- enforcement professional. For example, beit to a lesser but still significant degree tion and proximity issues. The third, trag- understanding our population, people with (Debbaudt, 2013). ically, is too often a cause of death for the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), from the This report will focus on safety strate- vulnerable child, young person or adult. viewpoint of independence level becomes gies that families, caregivers and everyone Since each individual with autism is essential background about autism related Dennis Debbaudt involved can develop and implement for unique and may act or react differently field interactions. the less independent individual. (Debbaudt & Legacy, 2005), the responsibil- The term “less independent” may be street, negotiating a financial transaction, Law enforcement professionals advise ity of providing information for persons with used to describe children and adults who and making sense of social interactions. that approximately eighty percent of patrol autism, family members and care providers will have difficulty in areas involving Often, these individuals are also nonver- responses do not involve criminal activity. basic life skills such as safely crossing a bal and may use alternative forms of com- Research indicates that persons with de- see Advice on page 23 PERMIT NO. 137 NO. PERMIT Effort, PA 18330 PA Effort, MONROE, CT MONROE, 460 Cascade Drive Cascade 460 U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. Mental Health News Education, Inc. Education, News Health Mental ORGANIZATION NON PROFIT NON PAGE 2 www.mhnews-autism.org AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ~ FALL 2015 Mental Health News Education, Inc. Autism Spectrum News Board of Directors Editorial Board Chairman Cindy Alterson, PhD, BCBA, Principal and Program Director Devereux Millwood Learning Center Jorge R. Petit, MD, Regional Senior Vice President, New York Market Beacon Health Options Joel Bregman, MD, Medical Director and Director of Psychiatry Vice-Chairman The Center for Autism Barry B. Perlman, MD, Legislative Chair New York State Psychiatric Association Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD Director, Seaver Autism Center Secretary Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Peg Moran, LMSW, Vice President, Operations, Center for Regional Healthcare Innovation Westchester Medical Center Susan M. Cortilet-Jones, MS, LMHC Licensed Therapist/Adult Coaching Specialist for Autism and Neurodiversity Treasurer Discovering Your World Debra Pantin, LCSW, Associate Executive Director VIP Community Services Stephen E. Freeman, LCSW The Freeman Group Members of the Board Lynda Geller, PhD, Founder Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW, Principal Spectrum Services, A Cooperative of Independent Behavioral Health Consultation Practices and Organizations, New York, NY Constance Y. Brown-Bellamy, MPA, Vice President, Community and Government Relations ICL Ami Klin, PhD, Director Marcus Autism Center Jonathan P. Edwards, LMSW, Training Specialist, Parachute NYC NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, President Alan Eskenazi, MA, CPHQ, CASAC, Senior Associate Executive Director Child Mind Institute Department of Psychiatry, Woodhull Hospital Mary Hanrahan, LCSW, Behavioral Health, Clinical Services Management Cecelia M. McCarton, MD, Founder and Executive Director New York Presbyterian The McCarton Foundation The McCarton School (for Autism) Joseph Krasnansky, LCSW, Vice President and Chief Program Officer Lower Eastside Service Center Judith R. Omidvaran Judith R. Omidvaran Autism Parent Advocate, New York Autism Parent Advocate, New York Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism Janet Z. Segal, LCSW, Executive Vice President Emerita Patricia Rowan, LMSW, Consultant and Advocate Four Winds Hospital and President, Four Winds Foundation Kid’s Connection Alan Trager, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer Westchester Jewish Community Services Pat Schissel, LMSW, Executive