E911 Courses

Course Description:

This specialized training prepares public safety dispatchers to effectively recognize when calls involve individuals on the autism spectrum. Participants will learn to identify key indicators of autism, adapt communication techniques for improved understanding, and employ specialized de-escalation techniques. 

Participants will also gain critical insights into the unique safety challenges faced by autistic children, particularly regarding wandering/elopement. The course will introduce valuable resources and tools designed to prevent and effectively respond to these incidents. A culminating tabletop exercise will provide a realistic, hands-on experience in managing a wandering/elopement scenario. 

This course focuses on the Dispatchers role in recognizing when calls may involve a person on the spectrum and on responding to calls involving autistic children who have wandered.

The instructors:

• Retired Police Lieutenant Glen Mills is a 2nd generation police command officer with over 32 years of police training and experience. He has advanced training and instructor training certifications in a number of mental health, crisis response, de-escalation and emergency management programs.

• Officer Stephen Papagno is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with over 25 years of police experience. He is a graduate of the Lowell Police Academy (1999) and holds a Bachelor's degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell. He has also been the Burlington High School boys' swim coach since 1992.