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Police and autism, teaching police officers how to de-escalate
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Sep 20, 2016
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Police and autism, teaching police officers how to de-escalate
Police officers go through years of training before they hit the streets and get a badge, but some LA County Sheriffs have been learning techniques that could help if they encounter someone with autism.
Kate Movius of Autism Interaction Solutions leading a recent training exercise
Kate Movius of Autism Interaction Solutions leading a recent training exercise
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Police officers go through years of training before they hit the streets and get a badge, but some LA County Sheriffs have been learning techniques that could help if they encounter someone with autism.

Police officers go through years of training before they hit the streets and get a badge, but some LA County Sheriffs have been  training in a very unusual program. 

The test seems basic, ask ten easy questions in 60 seconds, but while the clock is ticking down music is blasting, they're asked to write using their non-dominant hand and to make it just a little tougher -  3D glasses obscure their view.

The test is designed to give officers a sense of what people suffering from autism might be feeling in stressful situations. 

We talked about it with Kate Movius of Autism Interaction Solutions, the organization that oversees the training.