Training in autism offered to officials

Training in autism offered to officials
By Staff Reports 11/7/2008

The Tulsa Autism Foundation will present free training for area first responders about dealing with people with autism during the performance of their jobs. The training features safety expert Dennis Debbaudt and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at Tulsa Technology Center's Riverside Campus, 801 E. 91st St.

Debbaudt is the father of a young man with autism and is a professional investigator and law enforcement trainer. Research indicates that people with developmental disabilities are about seven times more likely than others to come into contact with police. Law enforcement officers, school resource officers, fire rescue and public safety workers, emergency medical response teams, emergency room workers, 911 dispatchers and criminal justice agency personnel are invited to take part in the training, which is a Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training accreditation course.

An additional session for families, teachers and other interested professionals will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the same site. For more information or to preregister, call the Tulsa Autism Foundation at 502-4823 or go online to tulsa world.com/autismtulsa.