El Dorado County autistic registry seeks to help law enforcement handle their cases
A new registry is aiding law enforcement and providing some peace of mind to families of autistic children and adults in El Dorado County.
The registry through the Sheriff's Office "is unique in Northern California and maybe in the state," said Ron Huff, director of clinical and intake services for Sacramento-based Alta California Regional Center.
The center helps secure services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The Sheriff's Office has worked closely with the center in recent months to better prepare deputies and dispatchers to handle cases involving people with autism. That includes making sure critical information is available to officers responding to calls for service.
"In El Dorado County, there are 158 people known to have autism," said Sgt. Todd Hammitt, who oversees the department's training program.
Families may fill out an autism registration form, available on the department's Web site, providing basic information and a physical description, as well as information about the person's condition or temperament.
Autism has a wide range of symptoms that affect a person's ability to socialize and communicate, said Huff.
An officer might think that someone who doesn't speak or who engages in bizarre behavior is being disrespectful or is high on drugs, said Huff. Knowing that the person is autistic can change how the officer approaches the situation.
Family members are encouraged to include specific information like commands or pet places the person likes to go, names the person responds to, whether the individual dislikes being touched or is bothered by bright light or loud noises.
"This gives us the opportunity to … better target the response," Hammitt said.
He stressed that the information is confidential, but it will allow dispatchers to flag a person's name and address so they can alert officers handling a call.
Hammitt said response has been positive. Residents from outside the county have called wanting to participate, and he has referred them to the Alta California Regional Center.
In California, there currently are 50,000 people with autism compared with 2,000 in the early 1980s, Huff said. The cases of autism are increasing three times faster than other types of developmental disabilities, he said.
The Alta regional center serves a 10-county area, including 1,900 people with autism in Sacramento County, 468 in Placer County and 209 in Yolo County.
"If it only worked for a couple of kids a year," Huff said, "in my opinion, it would be a total success."
HOW TO REGISTER
The autism registration form is available on the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Web site at www.edcgov.us/sheriff/autism.asp, under "online forms." Completed forms should be mailed or delivered to the Sheriff's Office at 300 Fair Lane, Placerville.
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