Available Trainings

A new and very valuable resource is now available. "Silent No More" Communication Boards have been developed by a mother with the assistance of a police officer from Pennsylvania. The boards can be ordered utilizing the form below.  If you have any questions regarding their use and availabilty there is a contact listed on the form.  We also have included a recent article about the cards and their creators to allow you to see how effective they can be.  Communication is so important when trying to assist others. Mother, Police Officer In Philadelphia Lauded For Nonverbal Card Program New Garden Mom was at her wit's end.       [By Betsy Gilliland.] http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfmnewsid=11422160&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6       Last year, her son, Ben, 12, who has autism, disappeared three times in one weekend. On two of the occasions, he had let himself into other people's homes.       Although Ben always has had a tendency to wander, she said, her concerns for his safety have increased since he has gotten older.       After a state trooper suggested she keep her son on a leash, Rzucidlo realized she needed to take action. She developed an idea to create a card to improve communications with nonverbal individuals and turned to her longtime friend, New Garden Police Lt. Kevin McCarthy, for help.       "I needed a policeman's perspective," she said.       Together, the two of them devised a "Silent No More" communication board to help police officers respond to people who have difficulties articulating their needs.       "It helps not only our families," Rzucidlo said. "But also, police officers know what they're walking into."       The communication board features a series of pictures that illustrates particular needs or instructions for nonverbal persons. To gather information from an individual, the police officer or emergency responder points to an appropriate picture on the card and verbally asks a corresponding question.       "Anything we can do to help reach another segment of our service area is a tremendous asset to us," said McCarthy.       Several months later, the two of them also collaborated to develop a Person-Specific Checklist.       Information on the checklist ranges from the name and birth date to a physical description to medical conditions of an individual. Requested information also includes likes and dislikes, favorite locations where someone might be found and effective calming techniques for an individual.       The tools not only benefit individuals with autism, however. They also are targeted for those who have developmental disabilities or mental issues; verbal language disorders; poor articulation due to cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic injury, etc.; non-English-speaking people; individuals with hearing impairments; Alzheimer's disease patients and lost or frightened children.       Rzucidlo said studies indicate children and adults with special needs are at a higher risk of coming in contact with police officers or other first responders.       "Because their behaviors are so odd," she said, "they make police stop and look and think."       The tools are designed to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome in the incidents.       The county commissioners recently presented McCarthy with a citation in recognition of his community service.       "We're delighted that this is a program in place," said commissioners' Chairwoman Carol Aichele.       Two weeks ago, the Municipal Police Education Training Center distributed 800 communication boards for every police officer in Chester County. Officers keep the laminated cards with their citation pads, said McCarthy.       The checklists were distributed to all county school districts and county departments including Mental Health/Mental Retardation; Children, Youth and Families; Juvenile Probation and Aging Services last fall.       Families can complete the checklists and return them to their local police departments. The police then forward copies to the Chester County Department of Emergency Services. The 911 center puts a premise alert on the home address and the checklist information, which appears on the emergency call-taker's screen, is relayed to the first responders.       "The officer knows right away he needs to be careful with his response," said McCarthy.       Commissioner Andrew Dinniman praised McCarthy and Rzucidlo for developing the program.       "Really, it's not government that solves many of these problems," he said. "It's just individuals that decide something needs to be taken care of."       The program is becoming a model for other agencies. Rzucidlo said parent groups and disability agencies from Montgomery, Bucks, Berks and Cambria counties have requested copies of the checklist. She said Delaware County also has followed the checklist and distribution model and will have the system in place in the next couple of months.       In addition, she said, organizations in New Hampshire, Vermont and Montana have been provided with the checklist as a guide to developing similar protocol.       The Mission to Educate Children with Autism funded production of the communication boards.       This year the program became a mandatory part of police officer training, McCarthy said.       "There's all kinds of uses for it for any nonverbal communication," he said. "It's just a wonderful tool."       He said the New Garden Police Department has received eight checklists back from parents in the community. The special needs of their children range from autism to a heart condition. Communication Board Order Form New Item added July 24th! Autism Awareness Ribbon Emergency Window Cling Order Form with Autism Information Cards for First Responders  Autism Ribbon Window Cling Order Form and Info Cards The Law Enforcement Awareness Network is currently assisting in the development of training programs by identifying needed services.  In doing so we feel we will be able to assist in fulfilling the need for such valuable training for First Responder Personnel within all of our communities. The L.E.A.N. On Us project is seeking support to allow for training of first responders that is not currently being offered within the United States. We feel by doing so, it will allow for individuals affected by hidden disabilities and mental illness to be understood and provided for by first responders accordingly. Though we realize that a project of this nature will be multidimensional in its delivery of services, we also have come to realize the necessity in providing such programs. To alleviate the unknown to first responder professionals in the field is something that will be of immeasurable benefit. To allow individuals affected by hidden disabilities or mental illness the opportunity to be better understood and awareness of their disorders less complex will also allow for a better sense of dignity when dealing with criminal matters and injuries when individuals may have been victimized. As first responders, we have also come to the realization that familiarity assists in situations which are often uncomfortable. In situations where hidden disabilities are unknown or mental illness is often unidentifiable, we have been left to respond accordingly by the way in which we have been trained and educated. If that process lacks the necessary awareness of all aspects of those within our communities, we at times may be unable to perform our duties as others perceive we should. We personally feel that the development of L.E.A.N. On Us project will allow for programming to better service all members of our communities on the whole. By doing so, first responders will be better prepared and those with hidden disabilities and mental illness will be treated in a manner to allow for both the mutual trust and respect that all of us expect from each other. We ask that all of those within our community share our vision in making L.E.A.N. On Us a reality. We feel that providing law enforcement and first responder professionals with a better understanding and awareness of hidden disabilities and mental illness, is to provide a better relationship between those servicing our communities and those individuals who they serve. We hope you will feel the same way and will support us with this project.  We would like to thank the Shelby Community Foundation for their support that assisted this project in its initial stages and allowed for the development of this website.