Brunswick Division of Police receives kits for interacting with children with autism

BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick Division of Police recently received 15 "autism kits" from the Hussman Institute for Autism, which will allow officers to better communicate with children with autism. The nonprofit specifically creates bags that are intended to be used by first responders such as police. According to the organization's website, the kits include a variety of items that are intended to make it easier for children to talk to first responders and feel more comfortable at the same time. Communication boards have words and corresponding photos, so children can talk about their needs and feelings and give identifying information about themselves. Items that help address sensory challenges like noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys and a stuffed animal are also included in the bag. Lt. Robert Safran said the communication boards will be especially helpful to the department and can be used any time an officer has an interaction with a child with autism. The bags are in most of the department's marked patrol vehicles. "This will allow us to communicate with the child who has autism in a more effective manner because a lot of time we respond to a scene somewhere, and there's going to be sensory overload just by our response," he said. "These cards that are included in the kit will be a much more effective way to communicate with children." Brunswick police officers go through crisis intervention training, and one section of the training is about autism, he said. Officers are taught how to best engage with people with autism and de-escalate situations, and the bags are another resource that are available to officers. "It's important because sometimes we get called to a chaotic situation, and if you're dealing with a child that has autism, one of the things that you're going to have to do is slow things down for everybody," Safran said. "This is going to be a great tool to be able to talk to them, to get down on their level and basically be able to find out information, be able to gather what happened and also calm them as well." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.