Mobile Alabama Police Equipped with Autism Sensory Kits

Great news out of Mobile, Alabama! Understanding the importance of being able to quickly recognize the signs of autism and respond effectively, officers are now equipped with both the knowledge and the tools to approach a person on the spectrum or any person with special needs, including those whose condition includes a sensory processing disorder. The Mobile Police Department announced that through a recent fundraiser, officers raised enough money to make Autism Sensory Kits to take with them in the field.

Officer Alisha Davis-Sonnier, who spearheads the autism awareness project at the Mobile Police Department explained, “If these kits can be used to help ease some of the overwhelming stimulation someone with special needs may be feeling so that we may better assist them, then that is a win.”

The Autism Sensory Kit includes a 5-pound weighted blanket that the officer can use to provide comfort to the individual, noise-cancellation earmuffs for keeping them calm and visual supports for those who have difficulty processing spoken information. Fidget devices and polarized sunglasses for those sensitive to light are some of the other items contained in the kit.

Each shift at all five police precincts has an Autism Sensory Kit, which includes the following items:

• (1) Blue and black 18-inch duffel bag
• (1) 5-pound weighted blanket
• (1) Children’s size noise-cancellation earmuffs
• (1) Adult size noise-cancellation earmuffs
• (1) Rubber flexible frame, polarized sunglasses
• (1) Small dry erase board with marker
• (3) First responder picture communication boards
• (1) Spiky sensory stress ball
• (1) Rubik’s cube
• (3) Stretchy fidget noodles
• (1) Fidget cube

I reached out to Officer Davis-Sonnier to congratulate her and to get more information on how she put the kits together. She explained that it all began when her police department accepted the Autism Patch Challenge. The Autism Patch Challenge was created in 2017 by New Rochelle, New York Police Detective Christopher Greco. Greco is the father of an autistic, non verbal child who founded Christopher’s Voice, a charitable foundation for autistic children in his son’s honor.

Detective Greco formulated the Autism Patch Challenge to promote Autism Awareness and Acceptance in every community throughout the country. The objective is to create and attach a custom Autism Awareness first responder patch to at least one emergency vehicle within each community’s police, fire or EMS department during April, Autism Awareness Month. Shoulder patches are a popular alternative.

Displaying the vehicle decal or shoulder patch is far from a token gesture. The Patch Challenge requires that all participating agencies review their training protocols when dealing with autistic individuals and implement new or improved training for all officers.

The Autism Patch Challenge also advises police departments to fundraise by selling their autism patches and other memorabilia, then donate the proceeds to local autism charities.

Once a police department accepts the Autism Patch Challenge, they are asked to pay it forward by challenging three other police jurisdictions. As of 2019, over 350 police departments have accepted the challenge.

Officer Davis-Sonnier told me that the Autism Patch Movement is actually now international and that they have a Facebook Page that shares information and ideas. Sensory kits, offered on a limited basis through Christopher’s Voice, was the topic of conversation online. This is how she decided to bring them to her own police department. I asked her how she decided what to put in them and she told me she spoke with local autism families and organizations. I congratulated Officer Davis-Sonnier and told her that her efforts are like sunlight breaking through the current darkness. It’s so heartening to hear good news about autism and policing.