PLAINVILLE — Chief James Floyd is pleased to announce that members of the Plainville Police Department will be wearing special pins this month in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
April is recognized nationally as Autism Awareness Month. Throughout the month, organizations work to spread awareness, promote acceptance and ignite change.
As part of Autism Awareness Month, Plainville police officers will wear commemorative pins throughout the month to help spread awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promote acceptance of those who live with it.
According to the Autism Society, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the U.S. with 1 in 44 children diagnosed.
The Autism Society describes autism as a complex, lifelong developmental disability that can impact a person’s relationships, self-regulation, communication and social skills. Signs of autism can often include repetitive behaviors, lack of response to normal stimuli or cues, atypical verbal communication or non-speaking, difficulty expressing feelings, avoiding eye contact and more.
Plainville police officers are trained on interactions with people who have special needs at in-service training. Officers also take specialized classes, some of which are taught by officers from around the Commonwealth who have children on the autism spectrum.
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