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Autism expert to speak
Dennis Debbaudt will train first-responders and others
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2008
Dennis Debbaudt, the father of an autistic child, founded the organization in 1991 and now travels the country training law enforcement officials on how best to handle situations involving people with autism -- situations that can quickly escalate if the law enforcement officer has little understanding of autism.
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In 1994, Debbaudt wrote a groundbreaking book titled "Avoiding Unfortunate Situations," which discussed the interactions between children and adults with autism and law enforcement professionals.
Since then, Debbaudt has become a widely recognized authority on the topic and a professional law enforcement trainer. He has written numerous articles for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin and Sheriff Magazine. His second book was titled "Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals."
On April 16, Debbaudt is coming to the area to spend the day training first responders and will speak during an evening session to family, friends, and caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
The training, which is free to first responders, is underwritten by the Autism Society of Washtenaw County with support from the Ann Arbor Autism foundation. Officers from law enforcement and rescue agencies in Saline, Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department are expected to attend.
"It's really exciting," said Saline resident Loreine Wynne, vice president of the Autism Society of Washtenaw County. "The response has been phenomenal."
The training will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The public is invited to an evening session starting at 6 p.m., in which Debbaudt will speak about how to handle a child with autism in an emergency.
"It's not just for the family of a child with autism," Wynne said. "It's for anyone who wants to know more about autism -- teachers, paraeduactors, anybody."
The evening session runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Mariott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. The registration fee in advance is $5 or $10 at the door. The advance registration deadline is March 31.
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