Thames Valley Police and Autism Berkshire have this week begun to roll out Autism Alert Cards across Buckinghamshire, according to Thames Valley Police.
After a successful pilot of the scheme in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire police have begun to issue the cards which provides the holder, or their parent or carer, with a quick and easy way for them to explain their condition to others.
The new-look card was unveiled at a launch event held at Aylesbury College last Friday (10/09).
Autism Alert cards were first launched in 2010 by Autism Berkshire and, in March this year, Berkshire cardholders were invited to share their experiences with Thames Valley Police in an effort to improve communication between the police and autistic people.
The police plan to expand the scheme into Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire.
PC Lucie Gray, of the force’s Autism Support Network, said: “We recognise that some people who are autistic may have specific needs which we may need to accommodate when they have a reason to contact us.
“An autistic person can choose to share their information about how they may act in a certain situation with police, which is a positive step towards ensuring we can have the most meaningful interaction. This helps to break down barriers to communication and assists us in being able to provide the best possible service.
“We are delighted to be working with Autism Berkshire and thank them for their support in helping us to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.”
Jane Stanford-Beale, Chief Executive Officer for Autism Berkshire, said: “After successfully running an autism alert card scheme in Berkshire since 2010, we are delighted to now be able to improve it and expand coverage in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Council and other local partners.”
Image source: Autism Berkshire
