New law mandates police train to deal with autism

Recognizing the signs of autism and knowing how to respond isn't something that only parents and doctors have to worry about.

It can also be of paramount importance to emergency responders.

A new state law requiring police academy trainees to be educated about autism was signed last week and will take effect on Jan. 1.

A state Senate sponsor, Sen. John Millner of Carol Stream, is a former Elmhurst police chief whose wife teaches autistic students and whose neighbors have an autistic child.

The Republican believes it's an increasingly important issue because the degrees of autism vary widely and the number of children with it seems to be on the rise.

"Years ago,it was rare to see a child like that," he said.

While it's hoped researchers will identify the causes of autism, it's up to others -- like police officers -- to find a better way of handling it as an ongoing issue, he said.

"If we all work together and all do our part, we can make this a better place," Millner said.

Legislators chose to include the training as part of the regular police academy curriculum rather than put the onus on individual departments to provide it.

Stacie McManus of Lake Barrington was recently honored with a Woman of Spirit award from the American Red Cross and Morton's The Steakhouse for her work on behalf of autistic children.

Though she hasn't yet read the language of the new law, she sees it as a positive and necessary step in increasing awareness of the disorder.

Her own 11-year-old son, Jake, has a degree of autism that has slowed his language development but still allows him to communicate.

A couple of years ago, he approached an officer and asked to see his gun. While that behavior can still be cute in a 9-year-old, McManus said, there's no guarantee he'll have outgrown it as he nears adulthood -- or what a police officer's reaction would be.

She also recalled the case of Hansel "Yusuf" Cunningham III, a 30-year-old man with autism who died in Des Plaines in 2005 when police officers restrained him by using a stun gun, pepper spray and batons after he bit a caretaker's hand.