Long Island, NY - April 2, 2018 - Senator John Brooks, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, today applauded the inclusion of autism training for emergency responders in the enacted 2018-2019 State Budget.
A staunch advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, Brooks is the lead sponsor of Senate bill S3866, which would provide a training program for firefighters, police officers, and emergency services personnel on handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism.
Brooks said, “As a volunteer firefighter and former EMS professional, I know first-hand that every emergency situation is different, just as every individual you encounter is different. First responders are usually the first on the scene, and it is crucial that they are familiar with the wide variety of behaviors that an individual with autism can experience during these chaotic and stressful situations. This training program will ensure that emergency responders have the training to respond and react accordingly, and is a much-needed step towards protecting our most vulnerable population, individuals with developmental disabilities."