Long Island Sheriff Launches Program To Aid Drivers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

YAPHANK, NY — The Suffolk County Sheriff's office announced the launch of the Blue Envelope Program, an initiative to improve communication between law enforcement officers and drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder, along with law enforcement partners and autism advocates at the jail in Yaphank on Wednesday.

The program is designed to facilitate smoother and safer traffic stops by providing drivers on the autism spectrum with "an easily identifiable envelope" to store essential documents such as a driver’s license, registration, and insurance.

The envelope is meant to serve as a visual cue for officers, indicating the driver may have specific communication needs, and allowing for more mindful, less stressful interactions.

The card uses visual symbols and prompts to help people with autism communicate during emergencies or routine interactions with deputies, and every deputy sheriff in the county is trained about the card and carries the card in their vehicle.

Copies are available to residents who request them.

The initiative expands on the success of the visual Autism Emergency Aid Card introduced by Toulon last year.

He noted that across the state, nearly 350,000 adults live with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"They are our neighbors, our friends, and valued members of our communities,” he said. "Simple tools like these can be life-saving in emergencies and everyday encounters. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s office is committed to continuing to adapt to be inclusive to all the residents we serve.”

State Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe explained that when a deputy "approaches a vehicle after a traffic stop, it is a tense time for both the deputy and for the driver, neither knowing exactly what they are about to encounter."

""When a driver displays the Blue Envelope upon being stopped, the officer knows immediately that they are dealing with a special situation and can react accordingly," he said. "Sheriffs do not want a simple traffic stop to turn into something much worse, and the Blue Envelope Program helps assure that."

For more information about the Blue Envelope Program, the Autism Emergency Aid Card, or how to receive one visit, click here.