Autism Spectrum Disorder Training for Law Enforcement Officers

Bill 829, Autism Spectrum Disorder Training for Law Enforcement Officers is currently working its way through the Florida House of Representatives.  The bill provides requirements for training officers regarding individuals with autism spectrum disorder; and would require the Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission to adopt rules requiring such training as part of continued employment training.  If a law enforcement officer does not have personal experience with someone with Autism, or even if they do, an emergency situation could go horribly wrong.  A person with Autism may not be verbal, and unable to answer the most basic of questions, they may start to stim and make sporadic movements or loud noises, or they may even try to run.  A law enforcement officer, if unaware, could perceive any of those actions as a threat to them and to public safety, escalating a tense situation immediately.  Bill 829 would require training for all law enforcement officers to help them recognize autism in a person and know how to best interact with them safely and effectively. 

IDD Teacher Wins a Grammy for Her Work

People tend to think that Grammy Awards are reserved for the big music names like Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Tina Turner, but there are Grammys given out for many others as well.  Annie Ray, the orchestra director and performing arts department chair at Annandale High School in Virginia, received the Music Educator Award at this years Grammys; an annual honor handed out by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum to recognize those who have made a “significant and lasting contribution” to the field of music education.  She was honored for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.

“This award, it’s my students’ award 100%,” Ray said during an interview backstage at the Grammys. “They are the coolest kids in the world at Annandale High School.”