first responder training Archives

Boyertown Community Ambulance Service Becomes the First EMS Agency In Pennsylvania to Earn Certified Autism Center™ Designation

Boyertown Community Ambulance Service is now a Certified Autism Center™, designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This designation means that EMS staff and first responders have received position-specific training to enhance their understanding and sensitivity when helping autistic individuals or those with other sensory sensitivities. The Boyertown Community Ambulance raised $6,000 in funds to train staff and purchase sensory kits for their ambulances. Continue Reading →

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JUL

Press Release

certified autism center, first responder training

What it Means to be “Bad” – The Challenge of Special Needs and Criminal Arrest

By Carol S. Weinman, Esq., C.A.S., International Speaker and Author

“My son really is a good boy. And, now, he thinks he’s bad.” These were the words of a mom who recently witnessed her adult son – with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – in handcuffs. It got me thinking even more about the unspoken fallout of an ASD individual’s encounter with police. Boys with ASD experience “hits” to their self esteem at a very early age. They feel different, sometimes odd, and often ostracized and misunderstood. Highly vulnerable from a young age, they are more susceptible to the after effects of being arrested, handcuffed or fingerprinted. They transition to adulthood with a compromised sense of self-esteem and self-concept. The impact of being arrested and handcuffed cannot be minimized. It is traumatic for anyone at any age, but for an individual with ASD, it can be even more devastating.

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JUL

Guest Blogger

autism training, autism, ibcces, cas, asd, autism certification, special needs, law enforcement training, special needs law, first responder training, police training

Autism Training in Law Enforcement and the Call to Action

By Carol S. Weinman, Esq., C.A.S., National Speaker and Author

The willing desire to work together in unraveling the puzzle of autism is growing among law enforcement. The number of calls I receive to present on the topic of autism and police training increases every day. The reason: law enforcement officers want to better understand the complex mindset of those with autism spectrum disorder and more importantly, learn how to interact with them.

Hardly a month goes by anymore when the media isn’t reporting about someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is arrested or has an unfortunate police encounter. That’s because what appears to be suspicious or criminal activity is behavior characteristic of an individual with ASD. So, how can a police officer know the difference? Well, the first step in prevention of these traumatic incidents among police officers and the ASD community is education.

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JUL

Guest Blogger

autism training, IBCCES training, autism, ibcces, special education, asd, autism certification, law enforcement training, law enforcement, first responder training, special needs training