Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, chair of the New York State Assembly’s subcommittee on Autism Spectrum Disorders, announced that a proposal he authored to establish the first statewide training program for law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders to help with interactions involving individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders was passed as part of this year’s final state budget.

Santabarbara and his son Michael, who lives with autism, will join the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region and the Shaker Road Loudonville Fire Department for a first Autism Awareness Training session with more than 150 first responders from the Capital Region registered to attend. The training will include education on autism spectrum disorders and how they affect individuals, techniques on how to interact with individuals with different types of autism, information to help recognize the signs of autism and sensory issues, calming techniques to help mitigate sensory overload, important tips that can help when an individual with autism is reported missing, and more.

“Whether it’s helping a family find a missing child or responding to an adult with autism whose behavior may be misunderstood, recognizing the signs of autism and knowing how to react is important,” Assemblyman Santabarbara said. “This training is a valuable resource to those serving in law enforcement and after years of working on this initiative, I’m so very pleased to join the Shaker Road Loudonville Fire Department for First Responder Autism Awareness Training.”

WHAT: Autism Training for First Responders

WHEN: Friday, April 20th, 7pm

WHERE: Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department, 550 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY

WHO: Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara; National Trainers, Capt. Bill Cannata and Sgt. Jimmy Donohoe; the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region; the Shaker Road Loudonville Fire Department, more than 150 first responders from the Capital Region