On April 23, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr., joined with the Winters Center for Autism for Autism Acceptance Month to announce an initiative to provide Deputy Sheriffs and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with a tool to help foster effective communication in emergency situations. To ensure Suffolk Deputies can safely communicate with all residents, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office worked with Winters Center for Autism to create cards with visual aids and tips to help foster communication during an interaction that involves law enforcement or emergency personnel.
“As Suffolk County Sheriff, I am committed to making our community an even more inclusive place for all residents. These cards can be a lifeline in any type of emergency situation. Thank you to the Winter Center for Autism for being a partner with law enforcement and for the work they do to improve the lives of so many residents,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
It is estimated that nearly 350,000 of adults in New York have Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition to the Suffolk Sheriff’s Deputies being equipped with the cards, the cards are also being distributed to the Winters Center for Autism for the young adults participants– many of which take public or County transportation to the center. The Sheriff’s Office will also give out the cards at public events or by request.
The Winters Center for Autism was established in 2020 to enhance the lives of adults with autism through job creation, training, and placement to address the excessive unemployment rate among people with autism. The Winters Center for Autism addresses these gaps by identifying skills and talents of participants and matching them with businesses and organizations open to creating jobs for capable and trained employees.
