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Local agencies get autism training

Observer-Reporter - 6/2/2017

As the mother of a son with autism, April Sloane knows what it is like when police have to be called to assist if her 7-year-old son bolts from his Canonsburg home or his elementary school in Cecil Township.And she wants to make sure local police and others know how to deal with her son and others who may have autism.Canon-McMillan School District and Autism Connection of PA recently offered training to law enforcement and community agencies in how to respond safely and effectively to calls involving children and adults with autism."This was done at my request," Sloane said. "He eloped from Muse Elementary School earlier this school year and got far enough away that the school had to call Cecil Township police. We were scared by the event."Police and others need to know what they can do, what works and what doesn't work," Sloane said. "I have had officers from Cecil and Peters Township say ?tell us what to do' because they never had training."Sloane took her concerns to Robert Chuey, special education coordinator for the district."Things can go south quickly," Sloane said. "Someone with autism may fight back."Sloane said it behooves everyone to be one the same page. She said Canon-McMillan is one of the top school districts in the state when it comes to working with autistic students.David Helinski, principal at Canon-McMillan High School, said his staff deals with a lot of students on the autism spectrum.Scott Bailey, a police officer in Aspinwall and at Robert Morris University, works as part of the Autism Network, training officers in how to handle those with autism. He has two sons, ages 17 and 19, with autism. He said a student with autism is often bullied. Bailey said they also can be manipulated to commit a crime."Sometimes they don't make eye contact," Bailey said. "Be patient."If an autistic child is reported missing, Bailey recommended acting quickly."Don't sit on it. Get the resources you need, because you want to bring them back safely," he said. "Check bodies of water like creeks or rivers, railroad tracks, bus routes. Assign an incident commander."Chartiers Township police Chief James Horvath said his officers already have received training in dealing with people with autism."It seems to be becoming more prevalent," Horvath said. "We are usually the first ones there answering a call. We have to keep up with the times."Chartiers officers usually know when they are responding to a home or location where there may be someone with special needs, whether autism or even someone who uses a wheelchair.