Hamilton police to host autism-focused engagement, promote national 'blue envelope' program

Detective Robert O'Hare of the Hamilton Police Division told the council the department will host an autism-focused community engagement event on April 11 at Hamilton Police Headquarters aimed at people on the autism spectrum, their families and first responders.

"Everything is just going to be engagement, engagement, engagement," Detective O'Hare said, describing a program that will bring therapy partners, school and hospital representatives, and first responders together for training, demonstrations and family outreach. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., he said.

O'Hare also described the "blue envelope" program, which he called a national initiative intended to provide officers with quick access to identifying information. "The blue envelope is a national program," he said, explaining it contains vehicle registration, insurance and a brief "cheat sheet" that notes if a driver is a nonverbal member of the autism community and how best to communicate.

He described the outreach as both education for officers and an opportunity for families to meet first responders in nonemergency settings. O'Hare said the department plans vendor tables, Safety Town demonstrations, tours of headquarters, giveaways of registry envelopes and stickers for cars and homes.

O'Hare also said the department will continue related community events through the summer, including a Miracle League softball event pairing officers and players at Trenton Thunder Stadium on June 9 at 6 p.m.

Council members thanked O'Hare and noted staff will assist in publicizing the events. No formal council action was required or taken on the announcements.