Evesham Township Police Department recently established the “Blue Envelope” registry program for individuals with autism disorder or other disabilities, which provides officers with quick access to critical information about a person who is registered.
Critical information includes emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines, favorite attractions or special needs of an individual with autism disorder, or other disabilities such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Down Syndrome.
A sticker has been created that can be placed on a vehicle or near the main entrance to one’s home that will alert an approaching officer that someone inside could have a special need.
Individuals can also obtain a seatbelt sleeve that will warn a first responder during an incident, such as a motor vehicle crash, that the occupant has autism and may not respond.
The seatbelt sleeves and stickers are free to township residents upon completing the registration.
The agency expressed gratitude to MJ Corp, a print shop located in Cinnaminson, for sponsoring the program.
“We are extremely grateful for MJ Corp for offering to be the sole sponsor of this program,” the department said in a statement on their Facebook page. “They covered the cost of both the seatbelt sleeves and stickers for registrants.”
The “Blue Envelope” program was established in an effort to avoid misunderstandings between officers and drivers that have autism spectrum disorder. The goal is to make a traffic stop or motor vehicle accident safe for all involved parties.
This envelope will hold the individual’s driver’s license, vehicle registration card, vehicle insurance card, and an emergency contact card inside the blue envelope, along with instructions for the driver in case they are unsure what to do when being pulled over. This envelope also tells the officers the best form of communication, like simplifying requests, or how to react if the driver becomes upset. It also holds the driver’s emergency contact card. A check box on the top of the card will also indicate whether the driver is verbal or nonverbal.
Any residents who are interested in registering for this program must contact Officer Sierra Gates via email at Gatess@eveshampd.org
