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San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies will receive later this month training on autism from a renowned psychologist from the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, authorities said.
Deputies and front-line professional staff will learn about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as part of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Autism Program being led by expert Dr. Lauren Gardner.
“The interactive training is designed to increase law enforcement personnel’s knowledge and awareness of ASD through lifelike scenarios. Deputies and professional staff will come away from the training knowing how to better interact and communicate with individuals with autism in both crisis and non-escalated situations.
The training will lead to better outcomes, including greater preparedness and enhanced community engagement, ultimately contributing to a safer San Mateo County,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.
Sheriff Christina Corpus said this will serve as “another resource for our deputies and professional staff to utilize when engaging with individuals who are on the spectrum.
“Unlike other neurodevelopmental disabilities, autism can be more difficult to recognize without training and experience. This experience will allow us to better serve our communities, and I’m grateful to Dr. Gardner for sharing her wisdom and expertise with us. It is especially fitting during this Autism Acceptance Month,” Corpus said.
The first phase of the training is planned to take place April 29 through May 3, with the second phase scheduled for June.
Thank you to the Sheriff for this important and proactive training, which along with the Sheriff’s Guardian program will make the community so much safer for people on the spectrum and their families.
Very glad to see SMC looking for ways to better serve autistic members of our community. More of this, please!