A Parent’s View of the “Growth Through Opportunity” Cadet Program in Roanoke

From 2004 to 2008 I was invited to present several times by Officer Bryan Lawrence and Sgt. Susan Camper (both retired) at the Roanoke Police Training Academy and other locations in Southwest and Central VA.

I would share personal experiences, the families’ perspective of having a child on the autism spectrum, including the symptoms, recommended responses and ramifications of the families.

Before that, Officer Lawrence and I invited a friend of mine, Nick Proffitt, who served with me on the advisory council for Commonwealth Autism Service to present at the Roanoke Police Academy. Nick is a Deputy US Marshal who also has a child on the autism spectrum.

Nick would often present to law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. His presentation was entitled “Autism and Law Enforcement: Avoiding Unfortunate Situations.” He also co-presented with Officer Lawrence at the Greater Roanoke Valley Autism Action Group (GRVAAG) Autism Conference, which was held every other year.

As a founding member of the GRVAAG, I would personally encourage our group to continuously invite local law enforcement and other first responders to be involved with our group and constituents.

One of the group’s main objectives was to create a variety of ways for our children with autism spectrum disorders to have positive interactions with law enforcement and other first responders such as Fire and EMS and dispatchers at the local 9-1-1 Center.

We would also invite them to our annual Project Lifesaver & Autism Awareness Extravaganzas (which are now facilitated by Officer Travis Akins, the Director of the Roanoke Valley Project Lifesaver Program and a Crime Prevention Specialist with the Roanoke Police Department, and Commonwealth Autism Service, Bedford/Roanoke Office.)

We initially involved Camp Virginia Jaycee and the Taubman Museum of Art (who hosted the first few events), the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office (Project Lifesaver, D.A.R.E. and K-9 units) as well as the Blue Ridge and Montvale Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department.
The events were free to attend and participate. Hotdog plates with chips and a soda and baked goods were provided for a small donation. Any proceeds were divided between the Roanoke Valley Project Lifesaver, Bedford County’s Project Lifesaver, Camp Virginia Jaycee, the Montvale and Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad and Fire Department and the GRVAAG.

Our last Project Lifesaver Autism Awareness event was the Project Lifesaver & Autism Awareness Trust Your Treats Fall Festival in September of 2014, which included law enforcement, corrections and Fire and EMS professionals from all across the state.

These included the Virginia State Police, the Roanoke Regional Jail, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, City of Salem police departments and others, as well as the Roanoke Sheriff’s Office and other sheriff’s departments in the local area.\

There were even a couple of the current Growth Through Opportunity (GTO) Cadets volunteering at this event, even though the GTO Cadet Program had not yet begun.

One volunteered as “McGruff” the Crime Prevention dog mascot, and the other, my son, volunteered with setting up, running the airplane rides, grilling, cleaning up, etc., but he spent most of the day interacting positively with many of the first responders. It was really amazing to watch!

I feel the Roanoke Police Department (RPD) has something going that would be a great model for other areas to follow.

As a parent of my child, who is now 21, I’ve seen the struggles and challenges he has overcome to be where he is today.

I’ve also seen the great strides and devotion that RPD and other first responders have taken in the Roanoke Valley to become more knowledgeable about autism and how to respond while interacting with individuals with this disability.

I am very proud of both, my son’s and the department’s accomplishments and particularly how the Roanoke City Chief of Police, Chris Perkins, has seen the vision of Officer Travis Akins, who is also the GTO Cadet Program founder and director.

Officer Akins saw the need, found the answer, and proceeded with the protocol in getting this program together.

It took lots of time and work (and still does), but Officer Akins used his fine community relations skills and talked to the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) who really liked the idea of partnering with the RPD and have brought in job coaches to work with each cadet, teaching many of the job skills they may be lacking.

The GTO Cadet Program began November 2014. One cadet has already received an offer to work with the local minor league baseball team, the Salem Red Sox. Another Cadet was just recently offered employment with a local Kroger. This is amazing!

The program gives these individuals an opportunity to improve their quality of life, gain many work skills, soft skills (people skills), etc., and to feel they are making a difference and contributing to the community.

Chief Perkins and the entire department wholeheartedly support and accept these young adults into their daily routine at the department.

My hat goes off to RPD for opening their department, their hearts and lives to these amazing young adults. I say lives because some have decided to do things with the cadets away from work and the department. They find other things to do in the community together. How amazing is that?

The civilian staff have done the same and opened their hearts up to these fine young men. Some talk regularly on Facebook and by texting. They have made new friends and that is really amazing as many people with ASD have problems with social and communications skills and don’t have many friends.

The GTO Cadets Program gives the department a chance to get to know them and learn how to interact positively with these individuals, although, they do not seem to have any “problematic” behaviors at this stage in their lives.

We know, however, that is not always the case out in the community when first responders get a 9-1-1 call requesting assistance with an individual with “problematic’ behaviors – who most likely needs someone who has been trained to interact with individuals with disabilities.

I’m also happy to see the President of the United States has also seen the need for training specific to disabled citizens for law enforcement agencies nationwide, (http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/03/03/obama-police-interactions/20105/), BEFORE it becomes an “unfortunate situation” – for the first responder, the department, the families, and for the individual with a disability.

– Shirl Light

Shirl Light is a proud parent of an adult child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and his older sister and lives in Roanoke, VA with her son and devoted husband. She is a founding member of the Greater Roanoke Valley Autism Action Group and Greater Roanoke Valley Transition Council. Shirl is a former parent resource coordinator at the Special Education Parent Resource Center in Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) where she worked with families with children with special needs, educators, school administrators and the community. She also served as a consultant of the RCPS Special Education Advisory Committee and was a member of the Commonwealth Autism Service Advisory Council and the Roanoke City Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. Shirl is also a member of the Roanoke City Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy and volunteers as much as she can.

GTO Cadets via The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice & Disability

Please take a moment and read what the presidential task force urges to improve law enforcement relations with individuals with special needs and unique challenges. The White House should highly consider sending a team to visit the GTO CADETS program in Roanoke, Va! This incredibly unique program should be expanded across the nation!!

Obama Task Force Urges Improved Police Interactions – Disability Scoop
A presidential task force is encouraging police departments across the nation to be
more mindful of their dealings with people who have disabilities

www.disabilityscoop.com

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