Following an anonymous call to 911, two officers arrive at a home and observe a young man in the backyard methodically hitting a boxing bag and then picking up an axe and chopping wood. This cycle keeps repeating between the boxing bag and chopping wood. - The officers immediately start planning their response and one of the officers “pauses”… Several months previously, the officer had learned about Autism and realized the methodical actions of the young man matched behaviors he had learned about. Talking to the parents, information is exchanged and the officers wait…
The young man is going through a process to calm down and this is his coping strategy. After 10-15 minutes the young man slowly throws his last punch and chops his last log and sits down on a bench. The parents and officers approach the young man and all is calm.
As a result of the Autism Society of Los Angeles providing ongoing training to police officers, the outcome of this encounter was uneventful over what otherwise could have been a much different result – everyone was safe and with their families that evening!
This is why I am inspired to give to Autism Society of Los Angeles – “improving the lives of all affected by autism by empowering individuals with autism, their families, and professionals through advocacy, education, support, and community collaboration.”
Review from #MyGivingStory