"Friend Responders" Campaign Launch

Today marks the launch of Autism Communities "Friend Responders" campaign, a collaborative initiative with the Suffolk County Police Department. This campaign is designed to foster mutual understanding and trust between neurodiverse individuals and first responders.

During a press conference held on Monday, June 24 at Greenview Properties, North District Lofts in Bay Shore, Police Commissioner Robert Waring emphasized the departments support for the campaign stating "this is especially important as we believe it will give both the officers and the residents a better understanding of one another and alleviate potential misunderstandings during times of crisis. Our hope is that no matter the emergency, our officer will be recognized as a friendly face."

View Full Press Conference

KEY ASPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDE:

• Appointment of a Liaison: Community Relations Bureau Sergeant Joseph Steigele has been designated as the liaison between the police department and Autism Communities. He will ensure that officers engage with our residents, starting with a meet-and-greet when a new resident moves into their new home.
• Regular Check-Ins: Officers will conduct periodic scheduled check-ins throughout the year. This will help to develop better relationships between our residents and emergency responders.
• Smart 9-1-1 Profile: Residents are encouraged and will be guided to create a Smart 9-1-1 profile, which provide emergency responders with critical information about the caller. For example, this may include sensitivities to flashing lights, sirens, or loud voices, enabling responders to tailor their approach accordingly.
• Training & Relationship Building: While officers receive crisis intervention training, specific information about individuals can further reduce stress in emergency situations.
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Additionally, Doreen Jaggs, Autism Communities Chairwoman, stated that "this is our next step towards inspiring inclusive community environments which support the well-being and success of our residents. Community partnerships, such as this, is what will truly enable us to achieve our enduring vision: To Inspire a World Built Without Barriers."

Steven Niciforo, our newest resident to North District Lofts, and other Autism Communities' residents from Westbrook Village in East Islip joined the conference. Steven spoke about his experience moving into his first apartment after living with his parents for the past 33 years. He shared "I am happy that Autism Communities developed this campaign because living on my own is a new challenge, but knowing that I can call someone in the event of an emergency and see a friendly face truly creates a level of support and confidence to make me feel secure in my new living environment. It is so important that the differently-abled feel included, like they are a part of the community and in turn have the community recognize, support and accept them."

Special thanks to the Suffolk County Police Department for their partnership in the Friend Responders campaign. This truly is a beneficial and important initiative and we urge other emergency responder agencies to join by contacting Autism Communities.

By working together, we can create safer, more inclusive communities for everyone!

If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please CONTACT US!