Forbes: Autism Inflation

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Will Hawke wrote:

To: wilburhawke@...Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 01:14:07 -0400Subject: Fwd: "On My Mind: Autism Inflation" Forbes magazine, June 6th article------ Fwd: Autism & Law Enforcement video reviewsDate Sent: 21 Jun 2005 07:23 PM> http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2005/mar2005/march05leb.htm#page10>> Video Reviews>> Autism and Law Enforcement, produced by Dennis Debbaudt and directed > by Dave>

Legacy, April 2004.>> The video Autism and Law Enforcement provides a quick and engaging > education> in autism that can help increase safety for both officers and > individuals> with autism, as well as minimize the potential for litigation that > could> occur as a result of a misunderstanding. Interviews and vignettes > involving> people with autism concretely convey the reality of how challenging > they can> be to interact with and how vulnerable to crime and exploitation they > are.> Approximately 1 in every 250 children born will be affected by some > form of> autism, a developmental disability that usually appears before the > age of 3.> Each will have difficulty interacting socially and communicating, > which will> challenge police attempting to help them or investigate crimes.>> The first challenge is recognizing that

someone has autism. Only > about 50> percent of people with autism speak, and they do so in > non-conventional> ways. In one segment of the video, a young woman speaks rapidly, > stringing> together her address and phone number as a result of rote > memorization.> People with autism typically lack social skills and an understanding > of> societal norms. Consequently, others may perceive them as > belligerent. This> is demonstrated in a segment with a young man who seems to mock an > officer> when he repeats back the officer¹s exact words and commands due to an> associated behavior called echolalia.>> The video also illustrates how open to suggestion autistic > individuals can> be when interviewed. Four young adults are questioned individually > about> Miranda and their understanding of its meaning. When asked if they >

would> ³waive their rights,² all four, with tentative smiles on their faces, > raise> their right or left hand to wave at the interviewer. This literal> interpretation, as well as the desire to please others, can create > confusion> for investigators.>> The segment on restraint and arrest highlights risks associated with> physical control. People with autism typically lack the understanding > that> continued struggling may require officers to use a higher level of > force to> restrain them. Lights and sirens can create too much sensory input, > causing> even greater problems with communication and control. Approximately 40> percent of people with autism have seizures, which stress can trigger.> Additionally, they may have underdeveloped trunk muscles making them > unable> to support their airways, which creates a high potential for >

positional> asphyxia.>> The 21-minute video has a break to accommodate viewing at two roll > calls. It> provides an accurate start in broadening the understanding of autism, > which> can only serve to increase officers¹ safety and that of people with > autism.> After viewing this video, officers will be better equipped to consider> autism when assessing behavior during personal encounters. Officers > who take> the initiative to become acquainted with the people in their > communities who> have autism will be even more prepared. The video¹s producer has an > adult> son with autism and is a committed advocate for people with autism > and a> friend of law enforcement. His realistic expectations, belief in > police> officers¹ skills and well-meaning intentions, and interest in the > safety of> officers and people with autism come

through with sincerity. To obtain> ordering information, readers should call or visit http//> www.risingbird.net/asr/email.html.>> Reviewed by Otto Oregon Police Corps Boring, Oregon> _____________________________________________________________>> Autism and Law Enforcement, produced by Dennis Debbaudt and directed > by Dave> Legacy, April 2004.>> Chief executives in the 21st century face incredible challenges > meeting> training needs of their respective agencies. Since September 11, 2001,> federal, state, and local training mandates have warranted tremendous> attention for chief executives. Nonetheless, meeting the seemingly > endless> needs of other in-service training issues cannot be ignored. > Short-duration> videos viewed at roll calls represent one avenue law enforcement > agencies> can consider to meet training

requirements. This type of media > provides> officers with the latest techniques and information on any number of> subjects that do not necessarily require a hands-on approach.>> My review of Autism and Law Enforcement, a 21-minute video, not only> enlightened me as a police chief but made me immediately recognize it > as a> valuable resource for all law enforcement officers. The producer, a > law> enforcement veteran and father of a son with autism, maintains viewer> interest by providing clear, concise bullet points about the nature > of the> disability; how officers should approach an individual with autism; > and what> to expect as a response from an officer¹s field interview.>> After viewing the tape, I immediately recognized the importance of> familiarizing officers with this particular disability. A startling> statistic especially caught my

attention: a greater likelihood exists > for> encountering a person with autism in an officer¹s daily assignments > than> that of many other forms of disability. Failure on the part of the > officer> to recognize the inherent characteristics of this particular > disability may> result in an inappropriate response or, worse, an unnecessary arrest > or> excessive use of force.>> The medical profession continues its efforts to identify the cause of> autism. In the meantime, however, research had indicated that it is > the> fastest growing developmental disability in the United States, > affecting 15> out of 10,000 people. It is four times more common in boys than in > girls,> and children are diagnosed within the first 3 years of life.>> Because people with autism have a propensity to wander and sometimes > do not> respond to

questions, they can be misjudged and viewed as suspicious > in> nature. Consequently, officers often fail to recognize some of the> behavioral traits of an individual with autism when responding to > calls for> service. The sensory overload that the person experiences often is> intensified by the officer¹s command presence, shiny badge, radio, and> firearm. The officer¹s mere presence in an interview scenario may > result in> the person responding in a manner that is unfamiliar to the officer. > The> video provides invaluable lessons on how to identify, interview, and> successfully resolve an encounter with such an individual.>> Autism and Law Enforcement is an excellent tool that can raise > awareness to> promote successful encounters with people who have autism. The > complexities> in the mission of today¹s street officer demand an astute response to

> the> differing needs of citizens. This training video helps accomplish > that goal.>> Reviewed by M. Skinner Chief, Port St. Lucie, Florida, Police> Department* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Indiana Autism Coalition, Inc. | lizff@... | ...to unsubscribe, reply to this message with "remove" in the subject line...* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *--------- End Original Message ----------- No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.9/23 - Release Date: 6/20/2005

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