First responders learn and interact with autism community at Kearney training event

KEARNEY, NE — There’s countless variables running through a first responder’s head every time they approach a call for service. On Wednesday, Central Nebraska officers, deputies and rescue workers added another variable to their mindset; what if the person they’re interacting with has autism?

“They process the world differently, which in turn causes them to respond to the world differently," Organizer Michaela Ahrens said. "They don’t always behave in expected ways, especially when it comes to an emergency situation or encounters with the police.”

Ahrens is the Senior Director of Programs for Autism Action Partnership. She helped organize Wednesday’s event in Kearney along with the Kids and Dreams Foundation, the Combined Health Agency Drive and the Kearney Police Department.

Part of the event was training. Part was allowing first responders and people with autism to interact.

“It’s not an emergency situation," Ahrens said. "This is a positive, neutral environment where they can really just connect and learn about each other as humans.”

Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh brought 10 officers to the training. He hopes it helps them consider that each person could react to them differently.

“There’s a lot more questions than answers today, I’ll be honest with you," Waugh said. "It’s intriguing and it’s something that we definitely want to continue to learn more about.”

Waugh says there’s about 600 people in Kearney diagnosed with autism. He wants to share bits of the training during department briefings to help his force be prepared.

“I just want to make sure that we’re able to constantly understand what we’re going to be experiencing in the community," Waugh said. "Hopefully we can do that safely and effectively.”