Portage Township autism programs expanded through Porter County

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP - The Portage Township Autism Action Coalition has successfully expanded three of its programs throughout Porter County thanks to a grant from the Porter County Community Foundation.

Last month, PTAAC distributed 140 sensory kits to the Valparaiso, Chesterton, Kouts, Hebron, Burns Harbor and Porter police departments. PTAAC had previously provided kits to the Porter County Sheriff's Office and Portage and Ogden Dunes police departments.

 

"With this distribution, every police car in Porter County should be equipped with a sensory kit," said Joyce Russell, Portage Township Community Outreach and Communications Coordinator and coordinator of PTAAC.

The kits contain a box of fidget toys, noise canceling headphone, sunglasses, communications board and dry erase board with marker. Since 2020, PTAAC has distributed a total of 350 kits, tools used to help someone on the spectrum deescalate from a meltdown or improve communication between the officer and autistic person.

 

In conjunction with the sensory kits, autism puzzle piece window clings are now available at all police departments in Porter County as well. Parents may obtain up to three clings, free of charge, to place in their car windows or the window or door of their home to let first responders know a child on the autism spectrum is either in the vehicle or the home.

 

The funds also allowed PTAAC to expand its new Blue Envelope Program throughout the county. The Blue Envelope Program is a communication tool between law enforcement and drivers on the spectrum. It includes a decal to be placed on the rear window which informs a police officer during a traffic stop that the driver is on the spectrum. It also includes a blue envelope with information for both the driver and officer as to what to expect during a traffic stop or interaction with someone on the spectrum. The third component is a contact card with a name and telephone number of a family member of friend of the driver in case the officer needs to contact someone on the driver's behalf.

 

The Blue Envelope Program was launched countywide on April 1. Since then, the police departments have distributed 48 packets of the materials.

The materials are also available at the Valparaiso and Portage branches of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Porter County is also considered a pilot program for the state of Indiana after State. Rep. Chuck Moseley introduced legislation in January to make adopt the program statewide. Moseley and state officials agreed to utilize Porter County as a pilot program.

 

"When we initiated the PTAAC program, our goal was to develop programs to raise awareness about autism and to help first responders and families," said Portage Township Trustee Brendan Clancy. "We also wanted to expand our initiatives throughout Porter County and the state with PTAAC being a model program others could easily adopt."

 

Last year the Porter County Community Foundation announced its latest round of grants. Clancy saw this as an opportunity not only to provide sensory kits to all Porter County police departments but to also expand other programs and to provide a regional autism training workshop.

PTAAC received the $10,000 grant in April. The majority of the funds were earmarked to purchase items for the kits and to stock a sensory kit pantry at the trustee's office.

 

Finally, the remainder of the funding will be used to host a regional autism training workshop on Oct. 16 at Portage High School. Jerry Turning, a retired police officer and father of a 21-year-old autistic son will return to Portage to provide the free workshop to first responders and others in Porter, Lake and LaPorte counties.

 

PTAAC also sponsors an emergency identification bracelet program and parent support group and has previously hosted sensory-friendly events for families.