Our Law Enforcement Initiative Director, Doreen Yanik, Esq., reflects on what she learned and gained during Disability Awareness and Support Day at Cape May County Zoo on June 27.
Autism New Jersey joined the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office to celebrate inclusion and support the county’s Blue Envelope Kick-Off event. The Blue Envelope helps drivers communicate their needs during a traffic stop. It is one of 12 autism-friendly practices that Autism New Jersey promotes statewide to improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals on the autism spectrum.
Impact is often found in the small yet powerful moments when we know our work has made a real difference in someone’s life
That was true at the inaugural Disability Awareness and Support Day at the zoo. During the event, we had meaningful conversations with self-advocates and families about autism-friendly practices, including practices for autistic drivers and parents of autistic adult children.
One moment that stayed with me involved an 18-year-old autistic woman who came to our table. We had a wonderful conversation. Her father was attentive but stepped back so she could speak for herself. She drives but had never heard of the Blue Envelope. After I explained the program and shared our publication, she loved the idea. I walked them to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s table so she could pick up envelopes and the county’s informational brochure. She was grateful and excited to use the Blue Envelope. As I walked away, I heard her father say, “See, it was good you came today. You got so many resources, and this envelope is great. You’re nervous about getting pulled over someday. This will help.”
Another couple came to the table with their youngest son, who is 17, autistic, and does not drive. They use a seatbelt cover to alert police that an autistic passenger is in the vehicle because they worry about what could happen if they were incapacitated in an accident. They also shared that their son has been triggered during previous traffic stops. I talked with them about a decal and gave them several Blue Envelopes for the parents and older siblings. Because they live in Cape May, I also explained that we are working with the Prosecutor’s Office on a Safe Stop program this coming fall, where drivers and passengers on the autism spectrum can practice traffic stops in a supportive environment. They said they would attend. Later, the father returned to thank me for taking the time to speak with them. He had tears in his eyes.
These connections and conversations are the real work. They remind me why we keep going, county by county, town by town, and person by person. When families learn about resources they never knew existed, when a young driver gains confidence about a future traffic stop, or when parents leave feeling more supported, we see the impact of meeting people where they are.
Doreen Yanik, Esq.
Through Autism New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Initiative, we work with police departments, prosecutors’ offices, and community partners to promote autism-friendly practices that improve safety, communication, and understanding during law enforcement interactions.