Written by: Blake Dietz, 12/10/2024
Original article: https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/new-illinois-law-will-require-police-training-to-recognize-signs-of-autism/
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Hundreds of new laws are set to go into effect in Illinois on January 1st, 2025. One requires police to take specialized training to learn to interact with people with autism.
People with autism can sometimes be nonverbal or easily agitated, making stressful situations — like encounters with law enforcement — especially dangerous.
Idalia Aldama works with autistic children at Caravel Autism Health Clinic, at 6565 E State Street. She is also a mother to twin autistic girls, and says like many parents, she worries about their safety.
“A lot of kids that have autism are nonverbal, so they might not always be able to explain how they’re feeling or what’s going on or anything like that. So that can be dangerous. Some kids…run away,” she said.
Adults with autism can also struggle to follow commands. In March, a 15-year-old autistic teen was shot and killed in a police encounter in California, bringing discussions of police training to the forefront.
“A meltdown can look like aggression and things like that,” Idalia said. “So obviously, if an officer isn’t familiar with it, they could mistake that for assault.”
The new law, SB 3201, will require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop and approve a course to assist police officers in identifying spectrum disorders. The training will be required every three years.
“The police officers can save lives of children with autism or people with autism,” said Caravel clinic director Katie Check.
“You hear about kids all the time that wander off or go missing,” she continued. “And it’s hard for those families to know that my child is nonverbal and I don’t know who’s going to be able to help them or if they’re going to go to the police officer that does find them because they might be scared themselves. And it’s so hard for them to understand words. So I think it’s a great thing to also have that police exposure to our kids.”
Idalia said, “I feel really relieved that they’re getting training now because it does provide overall safety for my child and again, relieves a lot of anxiety for me if I’m not able to advocate for them.”
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board will have two years to approve an autism-informed training program once the new law goes into effect January 1st.
