SerpApi.Org
A blue envelope soon will be the new tool for people with autism spectrum disorder to make traffic stops with law enforcement an easier experience.
"For most of us, getting pulled over is an inconvenience," Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said Tuesday. "For someone with autism, it can be something much more. The flashing lights, the sirens, the police radio chatter, the uncertainty of what's happening and what's expected — those sensory and communication challenges can quickly turn an already stressful situation into an overwhelming one."
The voluntary blue envelope program begins in January. People on the autism spectrum can visit a participating local law enforcement agency, fire department or library; any state driver services facility; or the Illinois State Library and request a blue envelope.
People then can use a blue envelope to hold items such as their driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance card.
While a blue envelope is not a free pass and won't prevent the issuance of a citation, if warranted, the intent is that the blue envelope would help an officer executing a traffic stop recognize the driver as being on the autism spectrum.
The front of the envelope includes a section to mark whether the driver is able to speak or is non-verbal and what communication method they use. There also are instructions for the law enforcement officer to use in recognizing that the driver's "unusual body movements, limited eye contact, or reactions to authority should not be interpreted as noncompliance."
Taylor Sweeting, program manager for Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living, sees the program as a benefit for both officers and individuals. People on the autism spectrum — Sweeting included — have particularly sensitive senses, which can make something that's unfamiliar or overwhelming all the more scary, he said.
"When I'm in a situation where I'm overwhelmed, I'm not — you can't communicate with me, and I lose that ability," he said. "So, yes, I will be encouraging people to do this program — I will take advantage of this program."
Aside from reminders that police lights and sirens might be overwhelming for the driver, the envelope also includes a section for contact information for people who can act as the driver's emergency support.
Jacksonville Police Department Chief Doug Thompson said his department will be requesting blue envelopes when the time comes.
"If they provide us with those or offer them to us, we'll accept them and then we'll be a safe haven so someone can come pick up an envelope if they wish," Thompson said.
No one likes to be pulled over, Thompson said, noting he expects the blue envelope program to be helpful for his officers. Anything that eases a driver's tension during a traffic stop is a good thing, he said.
"It's easy for me to say that I get nervous, so I can imagine that somebody that has sensory issues may have an issue with (a traffic stop)," Thompson said.
This kind of program is a powerful tool for people with autism to be independent, Sweeting said.
"I think something like this is empowering for people who are living with autism, to not only have self disclosure, to disclose their diagnosis, but obviously it is a safety thing that empowers them to promote independence and inclusivity," Sweeting said.
Sweeting recounted a time when he was pulled over in South Jacksonville. He credits wallet cards available from the state for making the interaction a positive one. When he was pulled over, Sweeting gave the officer all his cards, he said. When the officer saw his autism ID, he turned down his sirens.
"It was effective, but I think when you're in a situation and you provide them with that envelope, there's no wondering," Sweeting said.
The blue envelope will make it safer for everyone involved in a traffic stop, he said.
"Running the risk of opening old wounds, I know for a while there was kind of a rift between the autism community and law enforcement enforcement in the United States," Sweeting said. "Just, a lot of situations where autistic individuals were approached by law enforcement and the situation was pretty overwhelming for them and they were in kind of a panicked state — sensory overload, all the things — and unfortunately one thing led to another, and there have either been injury or even some deaths in these interactions."
