This sticker on the window could save lives
Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado remembers the day she decided to run for office.
As the parent of two neurodivergent children, she became frustrated with the options, or lack thereof, provided to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other disabilities. So, she ran for the Miami-Dade School Board in 2010. She immediately became a voice for autism awareness. During her two terms, she championed programs and services for special needs students.
Next week, to kick off Autism Acceptance Month, Regalado will launch a program with Miami-Dade Police to distribute decals for families to place on the windows of their homes and autos to alert firefighters and law enforcement officers that someone with autism may be inside. It displays a rainbow infinity symbol, which represents neurodiversity, and includes the words “may not respond to verbal commands,” in the middle.
People on the spectrum may be completely non verbal or, in contrast, may be unable to stop talking or making sounds. They may also be unable to stand still or “freeze,” if directed by police and, in fact, often jump around, rock back and forth or flap their arms — actions that can be misinterpreted as aggressive.
These decals could save lives.
Charles Kinsey and/or Arnardo Rios-Soto could be dead today if it weren’t for bad aim. The mental health worker and the 26-year-old autism patient were shot at three times by North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda, who missed Rios-Soto and struck Kinsey in the leg. A viral video shows Kinsey on the ground with his arms up, as directed by police, begging and shouting for them not to shoot. Rios-Soto was rocking back and forth with a shiny fire truck toy in his hands. Aledda — whose conviction on culpable negligence was overturned in 2022 — said he mistook it for a gun.
But it’s just because of his poor firearm skills that Rios-Soto is with us today.
Ryan Gainer and his family was not so lucky. The 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, was fatally shot by police in California earlier this month, again sparking a national conversation about how law enforcement deals with people with ASD.
Regalado sponsored a county commission resolution last summer to establish the Occupant with Autism decal program, which provides two free decals to families of persons with autism. The program is already up and running at some municipal police departments, including Hialeah and North Miami Beach.
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At a press conference with Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels before the commission meeting Tuesday morning, Regalado will ask other municipalities to participate, too.
“I’ve been on a mission to make Miami-Dade a safer, more inclusive place for our residents of all abilities,” Regalado said in a statement. “I couldn’t be prouder of this partnership with our top-notch police department. We’ve spent the past three years training our police officers to handle situations involving people on the spectrum and now we’re bringing the community into that conversation.
“It’s a huge leap forward for local law enforcement,” she said.
This is part two of a larger effort to improve how county personnel handle emergency response situations involving persons with ASD, of which there are about 50,000 in Miami-Dade, according to the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. In partnership with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the county has already had 2,100 police officers and 138 firefighters trained in the best practices for on-site crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques when interacting with persons with ASD.
Miami-Dade County residents can pick up the free “Occupant with Autism” decals at their nearest county police station, as well as at the Pinecrest Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, April 27, at Autism Family Fun Day at Devon Aire Park.
Autism decal program is personal to County Commissioner Raquel Regalado added by Ladra on
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