Autism Risk and Safety Management

Dennis Debbaudt presenting at an Autism & Law Enforcement training session

Click here to see Dennis presenting at an Autism & Law Enforcement training session

* Dennis Debbaudt has trained Department of Homeland Security instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia.

* Dennis Debbaudt is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) and has trained with the New York Police Department Emergency Service Unit.

* Curriculum Review Team member and resource for Why Law Enforcement Needs To Recognize Autism developed by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions October, 1999.

* Cited resource for POST Field Guide: Police Response to People with Mental Illness or Developmental Disability, by the Municipal Police Officers' Education & Training Commission, Hershey, Pennsylvania 2001.

* Debbaudt's sessions have been certified for law enforcement credits in California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon and Texas.

* Over the past decade, he's authored numerous articles and books including Contact with Individuals with Autism: Effective Resolutions with Darla Rothman for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (2001) and Sheriff Magazine (2002).

Research indicates that persons with developmental disabilities, including a rapidly rising autism population, are approximately seven times more likely to come in contact with law enforcement professionals than others. Police and first response professionals will meet children and adults with autism in field situations. Dennis Debbaudt's training will make these interactions safer and less stressful. For Training Session Bookings and Information, Contact:

Dennis Debbaudt 2338 SE Holland Street Port St. Lucie FL 34952 Phone 772/398-9756 (Son with autism may answer phone) Fax 772/398-2428 Email ddpi@flash.net

NEW! Autism & Law Enforcement now on DVD

NEW! Emergency First Responder - Dennis Debbaudt Interview

NEW! Dennis Debbaudt featured in the New York Times

In 1994 Dennis Debbaudt’s book, Avoiding Unfortunate Situations became the first to address the interactions between law enforcement professionals and people with autism. Since then he has become known as the world’s leading authority on the development of curriculum training tools and techniques for law enforcement professionals. With over ten years of experience presenting autism related law enforcement training sessions, Debbaudt's training materials are in use by law enforcement agencies in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom.
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News:

U. S. Department of Homeland Security hosts Autism Training Sessions at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

Dennis Debbaudt trained instructors from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DOH) at FLETC in Glynco, Georgia. Approximately 35 DOH instructors were in attendance including upper level administrators. The feedback was excellent and there were many fine questions during Q & A. FLETC acquired the new Autism & Law Enforcement video, the book Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals and handouts for use at future FLETC training sessions.

FLETC trains over 40 federal agencies including the Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Dennis was honored by the Autism Society of America (ASA) in Providence, Rhode Island on July 14th at the 2006 ASA National Conference's Evening of Champions in recognition of his safety education, training and awareness efforts.

The March, 2005 edition of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin featured two reviews of the Autism & Law Enforcement video. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin has a readership of over 200,000,and is considered the world's leading cutting-edge publication on law enforcement issues.

Here are excerpts, click here for the full reviews:

Mary Otto, Oregon Police Corps:

"The video Autism and Law Enforcement provides a quick and engaging education in autism that can help increase safety for both officers and individuals with autism, as well as minimize the potential for litigation that could occur as a result of a misunderstanding. Interviews and vignettes involving people with autism concretely convey the reality of how challenging they can be to interact with and how vulnerable to crime and exploitation they are.....After viewing this video, officers will be better equipped to consider autism when assessing behavior during personal encounters."

John M. Skinner, Chief, Port St. Lucie, Florida Police Department:

"My review of Autism and Law Enforcement, a 21-minute video, not only enlightened me as a police chief but made me immediately recognize it as a valuable resource for all law enforcement officers. The producer, a law enforcement veteran and father of a son with autism, maintains viewer interest by providing clear concise bullet points about the nature of the disability; how officers should approach an individual with autism; and what to expect as a response from an officer's field interview....Autism and Law Enforcement is an excellent tool that can raise awareness to promote successful encounters with people who have autism. The complexities in the mission of today's street officer demand an astute response to the differing needs of citizens. This training video helps accomplish that goal."