Autism Connection of Pennsylvania is excited join the celebration of sthe 15th year of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon in 2023! The Pittsburgh Marathon was held annually from 1985-2003, and following a five-year hiatus, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon was relaunched in 2009 and debuted with a sold-out field. Show your support for Autism Connection at the 15th running of this awesome event this May!
Join expert Miniature Railroad educators on a special behind-the-scenes tour through one of the Carnegie Science Center’s most popular exhibits! All tours will occur outside of regular museum hours. Designed for visitors with sensory sensitivities and/or other disabilities, these tours are personalized and free of crowds and loud noises. Each tour date has a very limited number of spots available, to maintain a welcoming, low-stimuli environment.
Tickets for this opportunity are free, regardless of Membership status, but require advance reservations for all members of your party. This is an all-ages appropriate event. General admission to the museum is not included, but can be purchased separately for the Tours that occur before museum open. To register, please use the buttons below, call 412-237-3400 or email CustomerService@CarnegieScieneCenter.org
We are powered by an amazing board of trustees who actively engage in the work we need to in order to be a lifeline for families and adults, which is our mission. One of our unsung heroes is the Hon. William F. Ward (Bill) who serves on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). As PCCD’s representative, Bill was key in creating funding opportunities in this Behavioral Health Commission Special Report. Follow the link below to read the full report.
Behavioral-Health-Commission-Report
Act 54 Areas of Focus (page 3)
On page 7, the Commission recommends that we “develop and expand upon pre-arrest diversion programs that connect people with resources in a time of crisis, including individuals with intellectual disabilities and with autism spectrum disorder.”
Bill Ward took a few moments to answer some clarifying questions about the recommendations:
Bill Ward, Past Chair, Autism Connection of PA Board of Trustees
Autism Connection: What does “pre-arrest” actually mean?
Bill Ward: There are two different types of arrests. There is a custodial arrest, which is when a person is detained, is not free to leave the scene, placed in handcuffs, and removed to the local police department. (There are also non-custodial arrests, such as when a person is given a citation or ticket for a summary offense but is allowed to leave the scene without being processed at the local police department.) The concept of “pre-arrest” is focused upon those encounters or incidents where the police have the discretion to not detain and charge a person, but instead would “divert” them from being criminally charged. In my mind, “pre-arrest” is too narrow a restriction. More often, the police will detain and charge a person. Even so, much good work can be done to divert the offender after the arrest but prior to the Preliminary Hearing, usually set for 10 days later.
Autism Connection: Can you give us a brief description of the co-responder model? Is there a good resource for this model?
Bill Ward: One definition is: “A model for crisis response that pairs trained police officers with mental health professionals to respond to incidents involving individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.” Here’s a link to an article discussing the co-responder model:
Responding to Individuals in Behavioral Health Crisis Via Co-Responder Models
The BHC Report recommends that $5 million be dedicated to counties to develop or expand co-responder models, and to train first responders in crisis intervention.
Autism Connection: Anything you’d like to add?
Bill Ward: Yes. While $23.5 million is recommended to improve the criminal justice and public safety systems, $5 million (of the $23.5 million) will be to develop and expand upon pre-arrest diversion programs that connect people with resources in a time of crisis. The Behavioral Health Commission was receptive to put in that such funding expressly include “individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
Autism Connection of Pennsylvania recognizes the tireless dedication our Board of Trustees demonstrates. When you see something that speaks to your need, know that our awesome board has had their fingerprints on that – for our literal minded readers, this means they have inspired, worked on, or supported that activity in a meaningful way.
Many children experience anxiety when it is time to go back to school. For kids with an autism spectrum disorder this can be especially true. Families can make this transition easier by doing a few simple things to decrease the worries and fears associated with the return to school.
Parents and caregivers can reduce a child’s “back to school” anxiety by using the following techniques:
Using these strategies is likely to make the process of returning to school a much more positive experience that can be enjoyed by all. For more information, please contact us at Sdean@Deanbehavioral.com
Sally Dean, Dean Behavioral Consulting, LLC