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Canton police introduce 'Blue Envelope' program and decal to help officers communicate with people on the autism spectrum
Summary
At the May 19 Canton Township trustees meeting, the police department presented a new 'Blue Envelope' tool and an awareness decal intended to help officers and residents identify and better communicate with people who have sensory, communication, or cognitive challenges. The board received materials and trustees asked distribution and placement questions.
The Canton Township Police Department presented a new “Blue Envelope” communication tool and a companion awareness decal to the Board of Trustees at its May 19 meeting.
Lieutenant Schulman said the Blue Envelope — a simple blue envelope filled by an individual or family with key documents and a one‑page note explaining any communication or sensory needs — has been implemented locally in the last month and is used nationally. “Typically, in the envelope will be driver’s documents … an explanation that the individual may need some additional time,” he said, adding that the envelopes were designed for people on the autism spectrum and for anyone with communication or cognitive challenges.
Kristin Farmer, the department clinician, described how the awareness decal was developed after a local family suggested a visible way to signal an officer that a resident or vehicle occupant might need extra time or a different approach. Farmer said the department worked with community relations and an external partner to design a decal using the universal autism symbol: “When an officer approaches this vehicle, they will know that someone in the vehicle might not respond the way someone else might,” she said.
Trustees and attendees asked practical questions about where to place the envelope and decal. Lieutenant Schulman recommended whatever location is easiest for the person — for many drivers that is the glove compartment or the center console — and suggested putting the decal on the vehicle’s rear window so an officer can see it before approaching. He said envelopes and stickers are available at the police department records desk, through the community relations officer, and at community events.
Schulman also described other established resources, including the township’s voluntary VIP (Vulnerable or Impaired Person) program that photographs and fingerprints participants into the Michigan State Police LiveScan system to help reunite lost or disoriented residents with family and emergency contacts.
The trustees thanked the police department for the presentation and invited the officers and clinician to pose with the decal for a photo at the meeting’s close.
The police department distributed printed copies of the envelope and information about the VIP program; staff said they have begun handing materials out at community engagement events and via social media.
