Health: Alert cards to assist young with autism
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Young people with autism in Strathclyde are to be issued with warning cards to stop them from falling foul of the law.
The Autism Alert Card will be given to young people with the disorder so they can identify themselves easily if they come into contact with police. Officers are trained to make eye contact, but people with autism shy away from direct eye contact if they feel stressed or threatened. They may also be unable to respond verbally or become agitated if asked to deviate from their regular routine.
The cards tell officers the person has an autism spectrum disorder, that talking and listening may be difficult, their behaviour may be unusual and they may not respond in the way officers expect.
The project involves Glasgow's Autism Resource Centre, the Scottish Society for Autism, the National Autistic Society Scotland and Strathclyde Police.
John McDonald, chief executive of the Scottish Society for Autism, said: "This card is an easy way of alerting police officers to the needs of people with autism and helps officers to better understand the individual."
