The ASA/LAPD Autism Awareness Project

What you need to know and proactive strategies to stay safe.

One year ago, Detective Gil Escontrias called the L.A. Chapter of the Autism Society of America (ASA) and asked for help in developing and implementing autism awareness training with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit (MEU) was receiving more and more calls involving people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Detective Escontrias and his supervisors wanted to prepare LAPD officers to recognize and respond effectively to people with ASD. The ASA/LAPD Autism Awareness Project is a proactive response to this need in the Los Angeles area.  Over 725 LAPD officials have been trained. Individuals on the spectrum are involved in the training, to put a "face" to autism.  

Emily Iland, who co-managed this project and co-developed the training content, will discuss why the MEU requested autism training, how the program was developed, community involvement, tactical recommendations for law enforcement professionals, progress to date, success stories, LAPD parents of children with autism, and future plans.

Ms. Iland will also present ideas to act on now to be prepared, improve outcomes, reduce risk, and help people with autism to be safe in the community.  These tips are inspired by law enforcement experiences of hundreds of people with ASD.

Speaker:

Emily Iland, M.A. is the mother of a son with autism and a professional advocate. She has a Master's degree in special education, and was chosen to be “the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year” for Northridge University in 2007. She is a founding member of C.L.E.A.R. (Community and Law Enforcement Aware Response), a collaborative to reduce criminal involvement and help law enforcement officials be informed in their response to people with disabilities. She co-authored Autism spectrum Disorders from A to Z with her sister Barbara Doyle, and translated the Spanish Version, Los Trastornos del Espectro de Autismo de la A a al Z, winner of the ASA's Outstanding Literary Work 2006.  She is also the CA rep of the Yes I Can Program for Social Inclusion, and has a B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Marquette University.

Ms. Iland will be joined by a representative of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Address:
Pasadena Child Development Associates
620 North Lake Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pasadena, CA 91101
(Just north of the 210 Freeway, click here for directions)

Schedule:
Networking from 7:00 to 7:30 PM
Featured speaker 7:30 to 9:30 PM

Print a flyer: October 2008_Illand LAPD rev.pdf (30.64 KB)

Note: Meeting date changed to THIRD Wednesday due to Yom Kippur.