Yale Public Safety offers Autism training and awareness

April is Autism Acceptance Month. To bring more education and awareness to its officers and staff, the Yale Police Department (YPD) hosted several Autism talks and a panel discussion. Each week members of the YPD heard from experts in the field, including several Yale physicians and professors.

The panel discussion led by DiversAbility at Yale, YPD, Yale Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, facilitated an important discussion entitled “Autism Acceptance: A World of Possibilities.” The conversation focused on Autism as a spectrum disorder, where each person with Autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with Autism learn, think, and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. YPD Officer Richard Simons and his son, Nicholas, participated in the panel. In addition to the panel, there were weekly speakers.

James C. McPartland, Ph.D., was one of the weekly guests and offered an interactive training session. Dr. McPartland is a Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center. He is Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Child Study Center and teaches a seminar on autism spectrum disorder.

Sara Taussick, Director of Programs and Training at Autism Services and Resources Connecticut (ASRC), presented a talk directed specifically at public safety officers and staff. Sara is a licensed and Board Certified Art Therapist and professional counselor who has been working with the autism population for over 14 years. As a director at ASRC, she works to educate the public through training educators, first responders, and law enforcement officers.

Christine Cukar-Capizzi, Psy.D, BCBA, also presented. She is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

This series was coordinated to help YPD officers and staff stay current on best practices for dealing with individuals with Autism and how they may behave in certain situations.