Autism Awareness Safety Night helps build trust between community and police
04/10/2025
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People with autism, those with intellectual disabilities, and their families are invited to attend Autism Awareness Safety Night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, at Dale Rogers Training Center, 2501 N. Utah Ave.
The free event offers a welcoming environment where people with autism and intellectual disabilities can meet and interact with Oklahoma City Police officers. Participants can also explore local autism resources, ask questions, and learn about IDD Safe — a program designed to protect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“This event is important because it gives people with autism and police officers the chance to practice their interactions with each other,” Oklahoma City Police Department Capt. Michelle Henderson said. “If someone with an intellectual disability ever needs to interact with police, they’ll be more comfortable and confident thanks to events like this.”
Autism Awareness Safety Night also raises awareness about the realities of people with autism face. According to the CDC, about 1 in 36 children in the U.S. have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. A 2017 study found that by age 21, about 20 percent of youth with autism had been stopped and questioned by police, and nearly 5 percent had been arrested.
"For over 20 years I have been teaching police officers and residents self-defense and conflict resolution,” retired Oklahoma City Police Department Lt. and IDD Safe co-founder Stan Campbell said. “I have a nephew with autism and knowing the importance of protecting our most vulnerable residents is close to my heart.”
Autism Awareness Safety Night is hosted by Dale Rogers Training Center, IDD Safe, Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma City Police Department.
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