The New York State Police launched the Autism Awareness Visor Card Program, designed to help law enforcement officers and individuals with autism communicate more effectively during public interactions.
A Sept. 18 press release estimated that one in every 45 adults in the United States has autism, which can create challenges with communication and social interaction. These challenges may include difficulty engaging in conversation, avoiding eye contact, repetitive behaviors such as repeating words, phrases, or gestures, and heightened sensitivity to lights, sounds, or smells.
The card was developed to ease interactions between law enforcement and people on the autism spectrum. It features simple visual icons that troopers can use to assist with communication and reduce confusion or fear during encounters. Each patrol vehicle will be equipped with a card for use as needed, and members of the public can download and print the card directly from the New York State Police website.
The program is expected to be rolled out across the state in coming weeks, state police said. For more information or to download the card visit troopers.ny.gov.
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