By: Najla Alexander
Atlantic County officials announced that every April, Autism Awareness Month is nationally recognized in support of differently abled individuals, especially those on the autism spectrum.
During this time, officials said, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office joins an abundance of organizations in elevating awareness and building supportive relationships between law enforcement and those with autism.
Supporting populations in our community that may face adversity is a high priority at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, and there are several initiatives and collaborations in place for this support, including for the special needs population, officials say.
According to officials, the Special Needs Registry was created to ensure all Atlantic County residents have the support they need in potential interactions with law enforcement or first responders in emergency situations, prioritizing safety within the community.
While the Registry does not require an individual to have a specific diagnosis and is open to those with all special needs, the Registry is beneficial for those with autism, officials stated.
Authorities say registration is completely free and contains fields in which the registrant can include information about the individual’s triggers and particular calming methods that the individual prefers.
ACPO has participated in several recent events to promote knowledge of the Special Needs Registry, such as an informational session Community Outreach Director Shavonne Davis led for New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) at Oceanside Family Success Center in Atlantic City, officials said.
According to officials, ACPO also attended an autism awareness resource fair hosted by the organization UnMask Joy at the All Wars Memorial Building in Atlantic City.
ACPO has further partnered with community organizations such as The Arc of Atlantic County to support individuals with disabilities and the programs that aid them, officials say.
Officials stated that during the first week of March, celebrated as Read Across America week, ACPO’s agents and detectives had the opportunity to spend time with individuals at The Arc, reading with them and strengthening connections with the population.
ACPO also created a Special Needs School Outreach Program led by Lieutenant William Adamson, which ACPO partners with local schools and their corresponding police departments, officials said.
Authorities say the program places detectives and officers in the schools’ special education classes to strengthen relationships between the officers and the special needs community members they serve.
This year, the program ran at Jordan Road School in Somers Point, Belhaven Middle School in Linwood, and Hammonton Middle School in Hammonton, officials say.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office continues to work with the aforementioned organizations, as well as the Atlantic County Special Services School and Atlantic City Police Department, in their efforts to educate law enforcement on those with special needs to better serve this community.
For more information and registration for the Special Needs Registry: www.acsnr.org.
Visit here to request a presentation regarding the Special Needs Registry: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenmZX2jEr_P_GUwnLQJwxyZHvY7Lx6l1mTBnS uotoIbEO6pw/viewform.