Police, firefighters get help with the autistic

When you're autistic, it's easy to be misunderstood. A P.E.I. mother and her autistic son wanted to do what they could to keep any misunderstanding from leading to trouble.

'People with autism will view the world differently than you.' - Dennis Debbaudt

Janet Norman-Bain and her son, Alex Bain, spent much of the summer raising money to bring Dennis Debbaudt, a speaker specializing in how to deal with autistic people, from the United States to Charlottetown to have a session with local law enforcement and fire personnel.

Norman-Bain wants police and other emergency responders to recognize the disability and know what to do for the sake of the safety of her son.

"He's independent and out in the community now, but may not have the verbal skills that are expected," Norman-Bain told CBC News Wednesday.

"If they tell him to stop and he doesn't, is that going to escalate into a situation."

In the summer Alex ran and his mom biked across P.E.I. to raise money to pay for Debbaudt's trip. Alex ran the length of the province in two weeks, a half marathon every day.

"People with autism will view the world differently than you," Debbaudt told officials gathered to hear him speak.

"They may not understand your verbal commands, they may not understand your facial expressions."

Debbaudt hopes his session with Charlottetown officials will keep them from jumping to conclusions, about drugs and alcohol or that someone doesn't want to co-operate, when it could be autism.

"Hopefully, people in the future, when law enforcement and people with autism have contact in the field, these contacts will be better informed, much more safe and risk free," said Debbaudt.

Officials in attendance intend to pass on what they learn to others.

"We as a first responder, fire services, are going to have to understand how to manage the situation where we have an autistic person," said provincial fire marshal Dave Blacquierre.

The meeting with emergency personnel is one of several Debbaudt will do on the Island. He will also be talking with educators and students. For Janet Norman-Bain and Alex Bain, the more people who understand, the better.