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Peeps and Police Safety Forum to help start dialog about living with autism

Posted at 8:35 PM, Oct 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-20 09:56:18-04

RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond Police department along with the JP Jumpers Foundation are hosting an event to raise awareness about autism.

The Peeps and Police Safety Forum is to help start a dialog about people living with autism and developmental disability in our community.

The goal of the event is to make sure everyone understands how those with autism and other disabilities may react in certain situations.

Pam Mines runs the nonprofit JP Jumpers Foundation. She is well-known around Central Virginia for her work as an advocate for the autism and special needs communities.

“I have a son with Autism. The questions I have of police may not be the ones other people have,” she said. “So, it’s important for you to come out so we can have this dialogue… So we can figure out what questions the police may have of us.”

Richmond Police will have those conversations and offer demonstrations to help enhance awareness and understanding to promote safety in the community.

“We’ll also have a mock traffic stop out behind the academy. They can see the car, the lights, and hear the sirens and then we will talk about how it affects them and how they feel about what`s going on. We will have a good dialogue,” said Dep. Chief Steve Drew.

Those affected by autism are invited, along with first responders, courts or corrections personnel, community officials and concerned citizens.

The safety forum will be held on Monday, October 24 at Richmond Police Training Center Auditorium on W Graham Road. For information, click here.

The event is free, however you must register in order to take part in the conversation.