Sheriffs in New York state are selling a brand new software they are saying will make visitors stops simpler for neurodivergent drivers.
The Blue Envelope Program encourages drivers with autism to retailer their license, registration, and insurance coverage card in a marked envelope that may then be given to legislation enforcement officers as wanted.
Talking in Albany Thursday, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond, president of the New York State Sheriffs’ Affiliation, says this system is supposed to streamline interactions for each drivers and police.
“There’s particular issues with these people. You recognize, the intense flashing lights, the sirens, sudden sounds, they will create disturbing conditions for individuals with autism, it is also a disturbing scenario for the police officer that is making that visitors cease,” DuMond mentioned.
DuMond says this system that has been adopted by a number of states must be utilized by departments throughout New York.
“All of the particular person has to do is contact a neighborhood sheriff’s workplace or the New York State Sheriffs’ Affiliation. We’ll present them with the envelopes. We’ll ship them if we’ve got to. I am going to hand ship them if want be. Let’s get the message out and make the scenario of visitors stops safer for everybody concerned,” DuMond mentioned.
The blue envelope initiative is just like the Sheriffs’ Affiliation’s Yellow Dot Program, the place these with sure medical circumstances can show a yellow sticker on their car, or present a card with particulars about their situation to an officer.
Albany County is without doubt one of the first in New York to undertake the blue envelope program.
Sheriff Craig Apple says his workplace has been instructing drivers on the spectrum the right way to deal with getting pulled over.
“We’d exit to our station and really cease them, and they’d get used to having the lights on behind them, perhaps a flip of the air horn, or a flash of the siren or one thing to that impact. After which when the officer comes up, or if the officer asks you to step out of the automobile, some people do not wish to be touched. After which, in fact, we had the airport the place we might convey them down and present them the right way to undergo TSA,” Apple mentioned.
Apple says whereas this system is meant to alert a responding officer to a driver’s wants, it may be utilized in a extra common solution to alert the officer about any incapacity.
“We will acknowledge it as anyone that is on the spectrum, could have autism, however when you additionally need to take this and write one thing else on this to offer us the pinnacle’s up, I am certain that each officer would perceive that,” Apple mentioned.
Kristin Christodulu, a professor of scientific psychology on the College at Albany and director of the Middle for Autism, welcomes this system within the Capital Area.
“We take a look at the Blue Envelope program as a solution to ease communication, ease interactions, enhance security for each a driver with autism, [and] additionally a legislation enforcement company,” Christodulu mentioned.
Lisa Audi is the founding father of Convey on the Spectrum, a sensory fitness center in Albany. A Sort 1 diabetic, Audi is the mom of a 14-year-old woman who has autism. Audi applauds the Blue Envelope Program’s growth to New York.
“As a driver, you need the primary responders to know every part that they should know which may not be seen. And so the yellow dot , for instance, would let anyone know that there is a medical situation, and they’d know to search for my insulin pump and know that maybe that’s the reason I am within the scenario that I am in. So the blue envelope, just about does the identical,” Audi mentioned.
Sheriff DuMond says any group curious about taking part in this system can contact their native sheriff’s workplace or the New York State Sheriffs’ Affiliation.
“We’ll present them with the envelopes. We’ll ship them if we’ve got to. I am going to hand ship them if want be. Let’s get the message out and make the scenario of visitors stops safer for everybody concerned,” DuMond mentioned.
For WAMC Information in Albany, I’m Alexander Babbie.
