Autism Awareness Program and Community Partnerships to begin for Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff

WICHITA – Wichita Police Department released a media advisory on X (formerly known as Twitter), informing the public of a new Autism Awareness program and community partnerships on Friday, September 15.

*** Media Advisory ***

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) and Sedgwick County Sheriff (SCSO) are excited to announce a new Autism Awareness program and community partnerships. pic.twitter.com/rXfnzVOzET

— Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) September 15, 2023

The post came with a long thread with the following statement:

“WPD and SCSO have partnered together with Sedgwick County Emergency Communications (9-1-1), the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, Heartspring, and Scheels to develop a new Autism Awareness program in Sedgwick County.

“WPD Officer John Biagini who works in the Exploited Missing Children Unit proposed this program and has done much of the leg work to get the program operational. The goal of this program is to provide education and resources to Law Enforcement officers when engaging with people with autism in the field, as well as, providing opportunities for citizens to provide important information to Law Enforcement to help us respond in a more informed manner.

“These kits will be available to responders so they can provide them to children and citizens who need comfort on the scene of an emergency. Law Enforcement personnel will be provided with communication cards to help them communicate with citizens who are non-verbal if needed.

“This is an opt-in program where citizens may complete a form identifying that they, or a family member, are a person with autism.

“The individual will be provided with stickers for their vehicle or their home to place in a location that first responders can see when they conduct a vehicle stop or respond to a call for service.

“Sedgwick County Emergency Communications is working with Law Enforcement to establish a notification process for these self-identified locations.

“This will allow dispatchers to alert responding units that a location has a resident with autism, so that responding personnel may utilize tools and techniques to better serve that individual or family.

“Additionally, Scheels and the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation have partnered with WPD and SCSO to support the roll out of the Sensory Kits. Scheels will be providing the kits to WPD and SCSO and the WPFF will help put the kits together for deployment.

“Heartspring has been an essential partner in the development of this program. They have worked with WPD and SCSO to develop material including the enrollment form, stickers that will be provided to citizens, training support tools for officers, and communication cards.

“WPD and SCSO will continue to work with Heartspring on this program to ensure we are best meeting the needs of our citizens. The City of Wichita Parks Department will also be deploying some Communication Boards at local parks as well.

“This program is a strong collaboration between Local Law Enforcement, our citizens, and private industry to help us better serve the entire community of Wichita and Sedgwick County.

“WPD and SCSO look forward to continued opportunities for partnership with each other and with our community.

“Our goal is to have the program fully operational by the end of the Fall. We will begin to distribute sensory kits when they are assembled later this month.”

There was one person who declared their skepticism on this issue with some choice words:

I dont fucking believe you.

Some troglodyte Neanderthal WPD Officer will rape an autistic kid because you fucks dont know how to run an org.

— GunMerica (@GunMerica) September 16, 2023

Nevertheless, the majority of comments were positive.

I remember very well how WPD has handled my adult clients with autism. Especially when the autistic individuals happen to be large Black men. Glad y’all are doing the work

— Read Radhika Desai’s Capitalism Coronavirus & War (@Jamesmarxian) September 15, 2023

This is amazing! I am super happy to see this development.

— Land of Ahhhh’s (@Sleep4Doc) September 16, 2023

One commenter had something insightful to add in regards to autism.

Autism is often viewed in a very narrow, stereotypical fashion. There are many Autistic individuals who don't fit the narrative.  Many CAN make eye contact, many have jobs, families,  etc and try to function effectively.  The issue here is

— Shealah West (@ShealahWest) September 16, 2023

recognizing when ANY individual is in nervous system overload and that results in parasympathetic nervous system shutdown and people struggle to answer your questions. When people can't CONNECT  for ANY reason, their nervous

— Shealah West (@ShealahWest) September 16, 2023

system goes into protection mode. I'd like to see more TRAUMA education and teach what fight, flight  freeze and fawn states look like. I see a lot of ego in response to people in protective states, which, in and of

— Shealah West (@ShealahWest) September 16, 2023

itself is a protective mechanisms people need to be aware of within themselves. This is good start. Those of us in the community and support Autistic individuals appreciate it.

— Shealah West (@ShealahWest) September 16, 2023