Increasing Autism Awareness with VirTra’s New Police Training Curriculum

1. Increasing Autism Awareness with VirTra’s New Police Training Curriculum Autism is a developmental disorder that affects people from all walks of life, regardless of race or ethnicity. It is a disorder that is commonly diagnosed in childhood, yet has no “cure.” According to data from the CDC, 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is referred to as a spectrum due to the vast range in severity on a case-by-case basis. As such, some individuals on the spectrum may be entirely non-verbal, while others show almost no symptoms at all. VirTra’s Autism Police Training Curriculum VirTra has chosen to address Autism in its latest V-VICTA® —VirTra – Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy— curriculum launch due to the difficulties law enforcement face when encountering persons on the spectrum. There have been unfortunate situations where people on the spectrum had their behaviors and speech patterns mistaken for suspicious activity, using or being under the influence of illegal substances, or being noncompliant. Police Offers Need to Read the Signs of Autism If officers do not know the signs of Autism or how to properly communicate with a person on the spectrum, mistakes may happen. To ensure police officers are equipped with the right skills to effectively and safely communicate with those on the spectrum, VirTra formed a partnership with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). Through SARRC’s research efforts, VirTra was able to put together coursework and simulator scenarios to assist law enforcement in learning the proper communication tactics. While VirTra normally uses professional actors when filming scenarios, this time, VirTra filmed adults and teens with Autism for accurate representation. Law enforcement members who participate in this course will receive lesson plans, test and pre-tests. They will be walked through each lesson via an on- screen instructor and go through scenarios designed to teach officers how to properly talk through situations. The Autism scenarios are not simply “shoot-don’t-shoot” situations; rather, the scenarios are made to enhance verbal skills and awareness of what Autism may look like. With a growing number of diagnoses, there is a higher chance officers will come into contact with a person on the spectrum. To avoid unnecessary trauma of those with Autism and scrutiny of your agency, VirTra and SARRC firmly believe extensive training and education is the right path. To receive the Autism curriculum as well as any other new V-VICTA curriculum, your department must be a current VirTra law enforcement customer with an annual service agreement. For those wishing to set up an annual service agreement or re-establishing an outdated one, contact a VirTra specialist.