Autism & Developmental Disability Safety Presentation – On Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. sign-in), the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library will be hosting a presentation entitled, “Hidden Dangers and Keeping Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Safe in the Community, School, and at Home.” Gary Weitzen, the executive director of PAOC (Parents of Autistic Children) will provide suggestions and strategies to increase safety and decrease risk at home, in the classroom, and in the community. Registration is required for this program and can be done online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or by calling the Lacey Branch at 609.693.8566.
The Lacey Township Police Department also has a program for parents of an Autistic child or guardians of other special needs family members to submit information to the police department via the PAOC form. Any resident of Lacey Township who would like to provide the police department with information regarding an Autistic (or special needs) family member, the resident may printout and complete the attached Autism Emergency Information Form which is available at www.LaceyPD.org/resources on the police department website. The form, once completed, may be dropped off at the police department dispatch center (24/7), mailed to police headquarters (att: Chief Paprota), or emailed to ChiefPaprota@LaceyTownship.org as an attachment.
Once the form is received, the police dispatcher will include an “address flag” in the department’s CAD system and include the form in a special binder maintained at all times in the dispatch center. Participation in this program is voluntary. The information provided may assist police department personnel in properly interacting with you and your family. The form was designed by the non-profit organization, Parents of Autistic Children (POAC), to serve as an important medium for emergency responders to better serve the public.