Prepare Your Autistic Kids to Interact with the Police

By sandra.caplesc…, 26 October, 2021
The back of a police officer.

Reader, imagine this scenario:

You are a police officer who got reports about unruly children in a park. You arrive at the location and see a teen acting rather suspiciously. He doesn’t make any eye contact, has a repetitive tic, and doesn’t respond to any questions. Even worse, he tries to run away or grabs something shiny from your uniform.

What do you do in this situation? Do you think this is suspicious behavior, or try to be understanding?

The blaring lights, the screeching sirens, and the strangers approaching the autistic child can bring an overload of sensory experiences. This anxiety and panic make it difficult for the kid to respond calmly. Unfortunately, many police officers are not familiar with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It's no wonder most encounters with law enforcement go wrong. And the headlines reflect that reality, which often leads to the officer assuming that individuals with autism are defiant and do it on purpose. Their behavior is seen as unruly, aggressive, and disrespectful.

This misguided assumption has dire consequences on the autism community. A New York police officer threw a 17-year-old on the ground and started to punch him. Likewise, an Arizona policeman pinned a child to the ground, wrongly mistaking the young man as a drug user instead of a person trying to calm down by stimming. Jackie Spinner, an associate professor at Columbia College Chicago, writes that she's worried for her young son. "If police approach him and he doesn't react in a typical way, [...] would my son beg for breath?"

Stories continue to pile up, and parents of children with autism spectrum are worried. More and more people are speaking up about this, and the need to train police to understand autism better is critical. It's also vital to teach children and adults with ASD to effectively interact with the law—and this article will show how you can do it.

Recognize Signs of Autism

Firstly, it's essential to teach first responders the signs of autism. Autism is a broad range of conditions characterized by social and language challenges and repetitive behaviors. Since there are many subtypes, people with autism have unique strengths and weaknesses. Many kids with autism require daily support, while others live independently. That's why officers need to recognize some of the symptoms:

  • Kids with autism have an impaired sense of danger. They tend to wander from their caregivers without a word, often near bodies of water. Water is dangerous for any kid, especially if they can’t swim. Traffic also poses another danger.
  • They are often overwhelmed by a person in uniform. It's not unusual for individuals with ASD to react to fight with flight because they feel overwhelmed. In this case, they might not respond to commands such as "stop!" Furthermore, autistic people can't respond to questions or their names and simply shut down.
  • Do not respond to instructions. It’s not unusual for an individual with ASD to reach to fight with flight because they feel overwhelmed. In this case, they might not respond to commands such as “stop!” Furthermore, autistic people can’t respond to questions or their name, and simply shut down.
  • Engage in repetitive behavior. Children with autism often stim, rock their bodies or flap their hands to calm themselves down. They might even avoid eye contact. This is not meant to be aggressive. Autistic people also have sensory perception issues and don't like to be touched.

Recognizing these signs can be the first step in avoiding unpleasant and violent situations. Officers encounter emergencies daily, and they are trained to respond to a crisis with a particular protocol. This protocol sometimes is not the best for autistic people. Law enforcement agencies should develop a program designed to better protect and serve people with disabilities and avoid mistakes. Officers should learn the basic response techniques and address any risk.

What police can do when encountering an individual with ASD is:

  • Speak in simple and clear sentences;
  • Give the person space;
  • Be patient and give the person plenty of time to process the information and respond;
  • Avoid loud noises and unexpected movements;
  • Do not touch the person without his permission.

Strategies for Interacting with the Police

Being approached by an officer is a stressful situation for any teenager. For youngsters with autism, it's more dangerous. Here are some guidelines you can use to teach your kids how to behave in front of law enforcement to keep them safe.

Meet Police in a Positive Setting

Familiarize your child with the police by having them interact with the officers in a low-stress environment. Experts say this is a good first step, and many police departments welcome anyone who wants to reach out. You can call ahead and plan a visit. This will help the child understand how the police can help the child and how the child should behave around officers. The officer will become familiar with your child and learn the best techniques to help your loved one. Your child will also be more responsive to a familiar face.

Register Your Child

As a safety measure, you can register your child at the local police precinct. The form includes your child's photo, contact information, diagnoses, behavior and sensory issues, as well as calming mechanisms. If the police are ever called because your child has wandered, the officer can learn about autism ahead of time and be ready to deal with the situation.

Role-Play the Encounters

Your child might not understand the concept of police. By using social stories or picture books, you can prepare your youngster to navigate stressful situations. Social stories are short and clear narratives that illustrate someone's experience navigating a social situation. Indirectly, the kids can practice various scenarios in which police are involved. Social stories help reinforce key concepts and behaviors. The exposure to stories supports the police's role in the child while also building language and communication skills.

Role-play also contributes immensely to a child's development. The more the autistic child practices, the better prepared he'll be for the encounter. The Center for Autism Research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia started experimenting with virtual reality training simulations for children on the spectrum, which helps them practice endless police scenarios. Take turns being a police officer and a kid with autism, and you can add whatever props you want.

While you are doing so, teach your child these vital tips:

Always Show Your Hands

Don't let your child put his hands in his pockets or grab something in your bag. Police officers might be concerned that the child has a weapon, even if they might be reaching for a calming object such as a fidget. Your child should explain to the police officer that he's stressed and wants to get the calming item.

Stay in Place

Your child’s first response would be to run instead of following commands. Running away signals to the officer that the kid has done something wrong, even if that’s not the case. Try to teach your child to stay in place when the officer comes to talk to him.

Don’t Touch the Officer

Never touch a police officer or his dog. Despite their cute appearance, dogs are officers too, and your child should not pet them. The officer might think that the child is trying to grab the gun or badge or simply attempt to hurt him. As a result, the child might end up handcuffed or worse. Hugs are also out of the question unless the child asks first. Handshakes are ok. And remember not to stand too close. It's hard for an individual with autism to judge the distance, but he might get in trouble. Teach your children to ask if they stand too close.

Communicate Clearly

Encountering a police officer is stressful, but the child should do their best to explain their diagnosis. Children with autism might have difficulty looking at someone or not responding quickly to instructions, so the officer should understand these struggles and what accommodations the children need. It's also understandable that the child might want to please someone and answer questions they don't understand. However, it won't help if he offers lousy information. The police officer might think he's lying or covering up something, even if it's not true. So it's ok if the child doesn't understand something or doesn't honestly know the answer, as long as he tells the officer so.

Police Are Regular People Too

Police officers are people, and they live regular lives too outside the job. There is no rule against saying hello to them or introducing yourself to an officer outside the community. Your child might even make a friend. What's important is to remain calm and practice different scenarios that can be life-changing.

As a parent, you'll probably still worry about what might happen when your autistic child interacts with a police officer. But these proactive steps will help everyone feel safer and prepared for a situation.