The Autism Society of Indiana has donated 150 Emergency Communication Boards to the St. Joseph County Police Department. The Communication Boards are being distributed by County Sheriff Bill Redman to County Police patrol officers, Reserve officers, Horse Posse deputies and County Jail staff.

An Emergency Communication Board is a visual picture tool intended to assist emergency personnel to communicate with individuals who are, for various reasons, not responding to verbal instructions or questions. These may be individuals who are non-verbal, on the autism spectrum, or simply feeling overwhelmed or confused.

By pointing to pictures on the ECB, emergency personnel can focus their need for information with the individuals’ level of understanding, ideally securing even a yes or no response allowing them to aid the individual in a non-threatening way. The tool is inexpensive, low tech, and easily accessible.

In addition to having this new communication method, all county police officers complete a yearly training on responding to calls involving persons with autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other persons at high risk of wondering or becoming lost. On top of this yearly training for all police officers, any county police officer who either serve as a school resource officer or regularly works in the schools must also complete a more in-depth training specifically regarding children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.