Disabilities Advocacy Group Backs New Blue Envelope Program In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A group advocating for the rights of disabilities is voicing support for a new Loudoun County program to ease interactions between law enforcement and people with disabilities.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office announced the launch of the Blue Envelope Program, geared toward assisting people with autism, intellectual disabilities, or other conditions that may affect communication and experience stress. The initiative seeks to help drivers and officers in situations like traffic stops.

Participants receive a light blue envelope that can store their license, vehicle registration, insurance and optional communication cards. The envelope, which can be presented to law enforcement, shares a statement that the driver needs more patience, time to process information, or alternative communication methods.

"The Blue Envelope Program is a meaningful addition to our ongoing commitment to serve every resident of Loudoun County with understanding and compassion," said Sheriff Mike Chapman in a statement. "This initiative creates a simple yet powerful tool that helps our deputies recognize and appropriately respond to individuals with communication challenges during traffic stops, ultimately enhancing safety for everyone involved."

The Arc of Loudoun cites Bureau of Justice Statistics data showing people with disabilities have disproportionately higher rates of criminal justice system interactions.

"The Blue Envelope Program raises awareness and protects the rights of people with disabilities," said Eileen Shaffer, administrative director of the Arc of Loudoun's ALLY Advocacy Center. "At The Arc of Loudoun, we advocated to bring this program to our community to enhance the safety of the person with a disability and law enforcement/ first responders. This is a meaningful step toward ensuring that people with disabilities feel safer and more understood during interactions with law enforcement."

There is no registration or documentation needed to obtain the blue envelope. They are available for free at the Loudoun County Sheriff headquarters and all of its stations, the Leesburg Police Department, Middleburg Police Department, Purcellville Police Department, and The Arc of Loudoun. Residents may also email ALLY@thearcofloudoun.org or fill out an inquiry form.

The blue envelopes are available at:

• The Arc of Loudoun (112 South St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175)
• LCSO Headquarters (803 Sycolin Rd SE, Leesburg, VA 20177)
• Ashburn Station (20272 Savin Hill Dr, Ashburn, VA 20147)
• Dulles South Public Safety Center (25216 Loudoun County Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20152)
• Eastern Loudoun Station (46620 E Frederick Dr, Sterling, VA 20164)
• Western Loudoun Station (47 W Loudoun St, Round Hill, VA 20141)
• Leesburg Police Department (65 Plaza St. SE, Leesburg, VA 20176)
• Middleburg Police Department (10 W. Marshall St, Middleburg, VA 20117)
• Purcellville Police Department (125 E Hirst Rd, #7A, Purcellville, VA 20132)

The Arc of Loudoun noted that the program started on May 9. Attendees at The Arc of Loudoun’s Safety Fair on May 10 were able to receive the blue envelopes.

Law enforcement officers across Loudoun County are receiving specialized training to recognize the blue envelope and "respond appropriately, using techniques rooted in patience, understanding, and respect."

Along with the new blue envelope program, The Arc of Loudoun said it has partnered with the sheriff's office's crisis intervention team since the team was formed in 2012 and has provided disability awareness training. The advocacy group also launched annual safety events with practice traffic stops in 2022 and made sensory kits to distribute to law enforcement, other first responders and the residents.