Dec 11, 2024, WTVO-TV, Rockford, IL: New Illinois law will require police training to recognize signs of autism
Hundreds of new laws are set to go into effect in Illinois on January 1st, 2025. One requires police to take specialized training to learn to interact with people with autism.
People with autism can sometimes be nonverbal or easily agitated, making stressful situations — like encounters with law enforcement — especially dangerous.
Idalia Aldama works with autistic children at Caravel Autism Health Clinic, at 6565 E State Street. She is also a mother to twin autistic girls, and says like many parents, she worries about their safety.
“A lot of kids that have autism are nonverbal, so they might not always be able to explain how they’re feeling or what’s going on or anything like that. So that can be dangerous. Some kids…run away,” she said.
Adults with autism can also struggle to follow commands. In March, a 15-year-old autistic teen was shot and killed in a police encounter in California, bringing discussions of police training to the forefront.
“A meltdown can look like aggression and things like that,” Idalia said. “So obviously, if an officer isn’t familiar with it, they could mistake that for assault.”
The new law, SB 3201, will require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop and approve a course to assist police officers in identifying spectrum disorders. The training will be required every three years.
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