Learning with The Autism Project©
First Responders play a critical role in supporting the health and safety of autistic people in our community. Our trainings empower teams to better understand autism and to implement impactful tools and strategies to support safe a community engagement. The training "Exploring Autism for First Responders" is available as a single 1-hour workshops, as a multi-hour workshop, or as a full-day training.
Who This Training Is For:
- Police
- Fire
- Paramedics
- Dispatch
- School Resource Officers
- Corrections Officers
Participants gain tools to:
- identify signs of autism.
- recognize when behaviors may reflect distress rather than intentional defiance.
- use communication strategies that deescalate and support safer outcomes.
- recognize sensory and environmental factors that may impact behavior during emergencies.
- respond with greater confidence when interacting with autistic people and their families.
Training Formats:
- In-person trainings
- Virtual trainings
- Customized training series
Training Lengths:
- 1-8 Hours
Training Costs:
- Virtual training - Prices start at $500.00 USD per 1-hour workshop but are subject to change based on audience size & customizations.
In-person training - Prices start at $3000.00 USD per day, plus the cost of travel but are subject to change based on audience size & customizations.
* For New England: Contact Training Coordinator Raji Rengarajan for local pricing.
Next Steps:
Fill out this form to request training
Recently, we began collaborating with The Autism Project and their trainer, Ariana DeAngelis, M.Ed., to enhance the autism component [of our Crisis Intervention Training]—and the results have been outstanding. Through clear explanations and real-world scenarios, officers and other first responders are given practical strategies to de-escalate situations, reduce trauma, and ensure safer, more respectful interactions.
- Sarah Begin, Regional Coordinator, Crisis Intervention Team RI
Resources
Autism Society - Safe & Sound
About Autism: Tips for First Responders
If A Person With Autism is Missing
Meet The Police Form
Wallet Card for Disclosure to First Responders and Law Enforcers
Visual Supports and Resources to Engage Autistic People and Their Family Members - First Responder/Medical
Hosting a Sensory-Friendly Event
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) - Home Safe Connect
Home Safe Connect in an online community that "provides a dynamic, secure, web-based space to promote peer-to-peer learning opportunities" in the hopes of improving responses between law enforcement and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Tip Sheets
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