Increasing Autism Awareness with VirTra’s New Police Training Curriculum

Increasing Autism Awareness with VirTra’s New
Police Training Curriculum
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects people from all walks of life, regardless of race or
ethnicity. It is a disorder that is commonly diagnosed in childhood, yet has no “cure.” According to data
from the CDC, 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is referred to as a
spectrum due to the vast range in severity on a case-by-case basis. As such, some individuals on the
spectrum may be entirely non-verbal, while others show almost no symptoms at all.
VirTra’s Autism Police Training Curriculum
VirTra has chosen to address Autism in its latest V-VICTA® —VirTra – Virtual Interactive Coursework
Training Academy— curriculum launch due to the difficulties law enforcement face when encountering
persons on the spectrum. There have been unfortunate situations where people on the spectrum had
their behaviors and speech patterns mistaken for suspicious activity, using or being under the influence
of illegal substances, or being noncompliant.
Police Offers Need to Read the Signs of Autism
If officers do not know the signs of Autism or how to properly communicate with a person on the
spectrum, mistakes may happen. To ensure police officers are equipped with the right skills to
effectively and safely communicate with those on the spectrum, VirTra formed a partnership with the
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). Through SARRC’s research efforts, VirTra was
able to put together coursework and simulator scenarios to assist law enforcement in learning the
proper communication tactics.
While VirTra normally uses professional actors when filming scenarios, this time, VirTra filmed adults
and teens with Autism for accurate representation. Law enforcement members who participate in this
course will receive lesson plans, test and pre-tests. They will be walked through each lesson via an onscreen
instructor and go through scenarios designed to teach officers how to properly talk through
situations. The Autism scenarios are not simply “shoot-don’t-shoot” situations; rather, the scenarios are
made to enhance verbal skills and awareness of what Autism may look like.
With a growing number of diagnoses, there is a higher chance officers will come into contact with a
person on the spectrum. To avoid unnecessary trauma of those with Autism and scrutiny of your agency,
VirTra and SARRC firmly believe extensive training and education is the right path.
To receive the Autism curriculum as well as any other new V-VICTA curriculum, your department must
be a current VirTra law enforcement customer with an annual service agreement. For those wishing to
set up an annual service agreement or re-establishing an outdated one, contact a VirTra specialist.