Ahead of a Jan. 1 statewide rollout of a voluntary law enforcement program that would assist drivers living with autism, some North Shore police departments are already putting it into effect.
The Blue Envelope Program is a communication tool that aims to facilitate law enforcement interactions with individuals living on the autism spectrum, according to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ website.
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To participate, drivers just need to obtain a bright blue envelope from a participating police station and keep it in their car with necessary documentation including a valid drivers license, vehicle registration and insurance card.
There is no cost to participate, and participants do not need any medical proof of their condition, per the Secretary of State’s office, which prints the envelopes, it indicated.
The envelopes also include instructions on what a person with autism can expect if they are stopped by a police officer, along with an optional area where people can also explain their communication needs.
Dylan Majcher, Chief of Police for the Winnetka Police Department, said the department joined the program on Sept. 10 and since has distributed several envelopes to members within the community and received positive feedback.
“We recognize that a routine traffic stop or other police encounter can be particularly challenging for individuals who may communicate differently, have sensory sensitivities or need additional time to process information,” Majcher told the Pioneer Press.
For Majcher, he said he wants officers to see the blue envelopes and immediately recognize that the person may communicate differently and needs extra time to process and respond to questions.
“This may include speaking calmly and clearly, avoiding unnecessary or rapid questioning, allowing additional time for individuals to respond and being mindful of potential sensory sensitivities,” he said.
In addition to the envelope program, Majcher said the department has a full-time social worker who is deployed on a case-by-case basis and helps personnel “access critical mental health and social-service resources.”
Back in April, the Glenview Police Department partnered with nonprofit Autism Hero Project for their own launch of the Blue Envelope Program.
“We have had several envelopes picked up but have not had any used yet during a traffic stop encounter,” said Carly Gaba, Community Relations Sergeant for the Glenview Police Department in an email.
“There has been a lot of positive feedback from our residents with this initiative and knowing our department is committed to educating our officers.”
The Wilmette Police Department also rolled out the envelope program earlier this year as part of a partnership with the Autism Hero Project. Carly Watson, Community Relations Officer for the Wilmette Police Department, said because the program is voluntary and no registration or documentation is required, anyone on the autism spectrum who works, lives or frequently visits the Wilmette community is allowed to apply.
“Officers regularly encounter individuals with a wide range of communication and support needs, and autism can sometimes present unique challenges during police interactions,” she said.
“Rather than viewing these situations as simply a communication problem, our approach is to recognize that officers may need to adjust how they communicate based on the individual and the circumstances.”
Watson said the department also currently has two social workers, one who is a co-responder, who work closely with officers and people in the community as another resource for situations involving behavioral health and other needs.
The Glencoe Police Department is also participating in the program and plans to implement the envelopes after the program goes into effect Jan. 1.
“Glencoe Public Safety supports the blue envelope program and has provided training to our officers to recognize the program and its purpose. As a consolidated Public Safety Department, all of our officers are also trained as emergency medical technicians or paramedics, which provides additional experience in recognizing and responding to individuals who may have difficulty communicating due to autism, medical conditions, or other circumstances,” said Andrew Perley, public safety director for the village of Glencoe.
“While blue envelopes are not currently available, we intend to make them available to the community once received.”
Patrick Deignan, communications and community engagement director for the Village of Skokie, said the Skokie police department is also planning to participate starting in January and is “updating its general orders to incorporate the state adoption of the blue envelope program.”
Blue envelopes can be requested through participating police departments and Department of Motor Vehicles locations across Illinois.