October 18 | Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center | Atlantic City
Autism New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Leadership Roundtable is a forum to network, share autism-friendly practices, and learn from colleagues and others.
This first-of-its-kind event will feature both brief presentations and open dialogue on the following topics: autism training, special needs registries, drivers and autism, and working with families and group homes. Beginning at 12pm with lunch and networking, the afternoon will offer formal content and real-time discussion to both assess and expand your autism-friendly practices.
This event is open only to leaders in law enforcement at municipal, county, and state levels and their designees. This event is free, and registration is required.
| OPENING REMARKS Opening remarks will set the landscape, outlining the importance of a coordinated, comprehensive, and holistic statewide approach to safe and positive interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism. |
| LAW ENFORCEMENT CONNECTION OVERVIEW Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D | Autism New Jersey An overview to Autism New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Connection initiative as well as review some important background information on autism spectrum disorder. |
| PARENTS' PERSPECTIVES Dr. Buchanan will lead Q&A sessions with two families whose children have had life-saving and traumatic experiences with law enforcement. The parents will each brag about their kids (of course!), offer some important considerations that law enforcement should be aware of when interacting with autistic individuals, and share their hopes for the future for how the two communities can have successful interactions. |
| TRAINING Captain Gerald Turning, Jr. | Blue Bridge Training Captain Turning will review highlights of a comprehensive training model for law enforcement on how to successfully interact with autistic individuals and their families. |
| SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRIES Detective Michelle Tucker & Executive Assistant Rachel Kibble | Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office This session will include a discussion of the importance and implementation of special needs registries. These registries are comprehensive, voluntary programs with a proactive approach to aid and assist citizens who have special needs that if known to first responders could help them better assist these individuals in an emergency. |
| DRIVING Chief Timothy Barlow | Tewksbury Township Police Department Chief Barlow will relay his experience with the blue envelope program. He will also discuss important considerations related to drivers and passengers with autism and recent legislation with driver’s ID notations. |
| WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND GROUP HOMES Eric Eberman, M.S.Ed. | Devereux Mr. Eberman will review characteristics of individuals with profound autism and those individuals who engage in severe challenging behavior. He will also discuss situations that happen in families' homes and group homes and perspectives from each to inform law enforcement responses. |
| CLOSING REMARKS Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D | Autism New Jersey Dr. Buchanan will summarize the day’s topics and offer practical next steps to organize and advance our collective efforts. |