April is Autism Awareness Month, and Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) officers are wearing special patches to increase public awareness and acceptance of those with autism spectrum disorder.
“Officers look forward to helping promote inclusion and connectedness for people with autism,” says Assistant Chief of Patrol Rudy Perez.
Social and community support can help people with autism achieve optimal health and reach their full potential. It’s a time to spread awareness of the challenges and celebrate the differences of those affected by autism.
“This is our way to show families that we recognize and support and care about people on the autism spectrum,” says Police Chief Virgil Green.
Smart911
As part of its awareness and support, the GVPD encourages community members to sign up for Smart911 to help first responders provide better service to those who may need it.
Smart911 allows you to provide key medical and other personal information well before emergencies occur. When making an emergency call with a registered phone number, your personal profile is automatically displayed to the 911 call-taker, allowing dispatch to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Profiles can include:
- emergency contact information
- medical history, including medications, medical equipment, and medical conditions
- property layouts, access points, and utility information
- number of people and pets on the property, and more
Smart911 is available in all 50 states and in more than 3,500 municipalities across the country. Registration can be done online at smart911.com or via the Smart911 mobile app.
For more information about community health in Golden Valley, visit the City website.