The bill, if passed, would create a required training course and new protocol for Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Personnel. Lawmakers said the focus is improving how they deal with families with those on the spectrum.
“Without training, we cannot protect our loved ones like my son. We cannot protect our officers, our first responders,” said Layla Luna. Luna is a mother of a non-verbal, 16-year-old son, named Rio. Luna said that one evening, she and Rio were pulled over by law enforcement and Rio became violent due to being overstimulated by the police lights and sirens.
“I have a huge scar on my wrist because of it. I had to hold him in order to keep him from running out into the streets,” she said.
She added if an officer had the right resources, he would have been able to interact positively with Rio. For example, the officer could have provided Rio with images and words that he could point to or headphones to lower the noise of the sirens.
“This is something that is so imperative to safety, and we also want to protect our first responders. Imagine they dedicate their whole entire life to serving the people and in one second they make that wrong decision. ”
Executive Director of the South Carolina Police Chiefs’ Association, JJ Jones, said they are still working out details about cost, but it is important that Law Enforcement can give the best possible service to everyone, including those on the spectrum.
“Law enforcement in South Carolina understands the need. We have to help with kids on the spectrum, and we got to figure out a way to get this information to every single police officer, even the new ones. And maybe through this process, we can do that and help save one life.”
Last year, another bill was passed that would let families buy license plates indicating that there is an individual with autism inside the vehicle.
The bill will be sent to the Judiciary Committee.
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