Public SafetyTuesday, November 3
Bella Vista police get 50 autism sensory kits today from a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit
The Daily Rogers team
If you or someone you love is on the autism spectrum, here's a change coming to Bella Vista police cruisers. Autism Involves Me, or AIM, will launch AIM 2 Respond today with 50 sensory kits for the Bella Vista Police Department, and officers will get training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Emergency Response.
Each kit item is meant to help with a different need
| Kit item | Helps with |
|---|---|
| Noise-canceling headphones | Loud noises |
| Sunglasses | Bright lights |
| Communication cards | People who are nonverbal |
Source: KUAF Public Radio
“This response kit in an officer's vehicle could give that individual a little voice.”
It started in early September, when a Bella Vista officer called George after seeing a video of an officer using a sensory kit to de-escalate a situation. Now AIM hopes to offer the kits to other police departments, fire departments, and first responders across Northwest Arkansas.
50AIM 2 Respond kits going to Bella Vista police
George said AIM wanted a kit for every officer, "from the chief all the way down to the officers that are on the beat."
Source: KUAF Public Radio
- Region first: Bella Vista is the first police department with the kits
- Also in each kit: fidget tools, laminated boards, comfort supplies
- Restaurants: some local restaurants already stock AIM sensory kits