Texas Bar Foundation awards autism advocates $10,000

Hope For Three has some extra money to do their work thanks to the donation from a state legal group.

The Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded the local nonprofit and autism advocacy group, Hope For Three, a $10,000 grant. The award will allow the organization to continue training law enforcement, from the Greater Houston and surrounding areas, on the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.

Hope For Three serves as the exclusive autism educator for the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program. The CIT program educates first responders on engagement strategies and intervention techniques to diffuse crisis situations for individuals with autism and or those affected by mental illness.

"Police are trained to respond to a crisis with a certain protocol, but this protocol may not always be the best way to interact with individuals with autism," said Lt. Scott Soland, CIT Program Coordinator.

Since 2014, nearly 1,100 officers in Fort Bend, Harris and surrounding counties have received training through CIT.

"We're honored to partner with the Texas Bar Foundation and the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office," said Darla Farmer, Hope For Three Executive Director. "This funding will provide opportunities to expand our program and attend, as a guest speaker, the 2018 CIT State Conference in Fort Worth, next May."

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $18 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

If you would like to schedule a CIT presentation in your area, contact Darla Farmer, 281-245-0640. For information on resources, or how you can be the difference through volunteering or philanthropic support, visit www.hopeforthree.org