Indianapolis aims to be more welcoming for those with autism
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis has endorsed a new initiative that will aim to make Indiana's capital city a more welcoming place for people with autism by providing training for police, bus drivers and other city employees.
The Indianapolis City-County Council adopted the Indy Autism Project last Monday. The effort, which would be operated entirely on donations, will partner the city with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
That international group will train Indianapolis police, IndyGo bus drivers and Indy Parks employees on how to empathize with and understand individuals with autism, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Council member Ali Brown, who proposed the initiative, has a 3-year-old son, Dylan, with autism. Brown said she wants to use her time on the council to make the world better for those on the autism spectrum.
'œIt's very important as an inclusive welcoming city that we do everything we can to make sure that people on the spectrum have access to all the opportunities that the rest of us have," she said.
The project will begin with $10,000 from the Autism Society of Indiana. Brown hopes more donations will give the initiative a boost that could include the creation of a sensory park that has more tactile experiences for children with autism.
The international credentialing board will also work with the Indy Chamber and the nonprofit Easterseals to bring training and accreditation for employers in the city, showing them best hiring practices for people on the spectrum.
Visit Indy will also work with the hospitality and tourism industry to make certain locations and events sensory friendly - a key benefit for people with autism who may have sensory issues.
The efforts will make Indianapolis the second city, after Mesa, Arizona, to become autism certified by the credentialing board.
'œMy fervent hope is that this idea, this step forward, shines a bright light on Indianapolis and Indiana, and our community as a whole,'ť said Todd Root, director of strategic development for the Autism Society of Indiana.