A Suggested Resource:
FINANCIAL COP, a financial advising and recovery firm owned and offered by former first responders. They offer an online Financial Wellness Academy. This online virtual training will cost $ 79.99 for the full training academy. However, a promo code may be requested to assist someone in crisis where they can access the training module PLUS 1 year individual financial coaching for FREE. Before someone can access their free year of individual financial coaching support, they must first complete the Virtual Training Academy. (From Nancy Bond)
Phil Morris MSc LLB (Hons).
Trainer in Achieving Best Evidence (ABE)
Our Zoom community forum was:
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 11am Houston time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7982622454
See the flyer down on the left for Zoom details.
RideAlong Podcasts:
RideAlong with MCHD EMS District Chief Ashley Fullmore and Team - “E is Still for Emergency” and “When You Get Out of the Left Lane, STOP Moving!”
Interview with MCHD District Chief April Currie and Team - "E is for Emergency, and What is a Disregard?"
Interview with MCHD District Chief Kerri King followed by “Get Out of the Left Lane!”
RideAlong 08.27.21 with Deputy Austin Gay, Crisis Intervention Team, Constable Precinct #1, Montgomery County
Pronoun Resources Podcast
The Emergency Game Workshop
First Responders: policemen, firefighters, paramedics, EMT’s, military-connected, teachers, bus drivers, health workers, clergy, and more. Everyone is invited to join us for this call to action in learning how to recognize and respond in situations where the victim/suspect/person of interest may be neurodiverse.
(Phil Morris retired from Greater Manchester Police in January 2016 after 30 years of service. From 2002, Phil was based at force crime training school delivering interview training to Detectives.
Phil’s passion lies within the forensic interviewing of people with autism and what measures investigating officers can adopt to improve the interview process. Phil is a member of the UK National Autistic Society and has been accredited by the society as a trainer in his field of interest. Phil now has his own training service, Specialist Communication Techniques, that trains police and other law enforcement staff as well as social services, governmental and medical staff in how to interview people with autism.)
Interviewing Autistic People Within the Criminal Justice System
“The interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects is a central component within the criminal justice system. The numbers of people with autism that fall into these categories are unknown although research suggests that autistic people may be over represented in each of these three categories. Factors including social naivety and theory of mind (the ability to understand one’s own mental state and that others may have a different mental state), have been highlighted as some of the reasons for this over-representation.
My interest in interviewing autistic people started developing during my role as a police trainer of interviewing techniques and, specifically, the interviewing of autistic people. Autism had fascinated me since I conducted a very poor interview of an autistic victim of crime some years previously. At the time I didn’t really understand the autistic condition. I failed to speak to the victim’s family and the professionals who knew much more than I did about the types of communication strategies that would have been more effective and, no doubt, would have resulted in a much better interview.
After becoming a Trainer based in Greater Manchester Police’s crime training school, I took this interest further and studied for a Master’s degree focusing on the quality of police training in this field. During my time as a student, it became clear that some of the interviewing methods advocated as good practice to police officers, did not always reflect the research and experience of the clinicians and academics working in this field. In particular some aspects of cognitive interviewing have consistently been shown to be unhelpful when interviewing an autistic person.
Although not always knowingly, the police and other investigative bodies will interview autistic people on a regular basis. Most of these interviewers will have had interviewing training that focuses on the interviewing of neuro-typical interviewees. Although the police service has improved its training around autistic issues (e.g. first response) it’s unlikely that interviewers will have had any in-depth training on effective communication and interviewing issues surrounding the autistic condition.
A 2016 survey that explored autism and policing found that 69% of autistic adults and 74% of parents of children with autism surveyed, felt dissatisfied with their experiences with the police service. They reported discrimination, a lack of clarity and explanation and feeling that their needs were not met. Of particular interest to the interviewing process, was the fact that many felt that the physical environment of an interview, together with a lack of support and explanation, led to emotional stress and breakdown in communication.
However, research suggests that autistic interviewees can provide as complete and accurate information as neuro-typical people – but only if interviews are tailored appropriately. As a result, I introduced a specific autistic communication training lesson within the interviewing courses delivered by my own police force.
The police service, and other agencies obliged to interview or conduct conversations with autistic people, must provide a satisfactory service to the autistic community. Better interviewing outcomes will be achieved if interviewers have a significant awareness of the autistic condition. This includes the types of common spectrum conditions, the psychological, communication (both receptive and expressive) and an understanding of the relationship between autism and the criminal justice system.
The importance of effective planning and preparation for an interview with an autistic person cannot be overstated. The assistance and advice of family, friends or professionals who know the interviewee, can be invaluable to the interview process. Interviewers must take account of the sensory sensitivity of interviewees that includes a suitable venue for an interview. Issues around eye contact, physical contact, interviewer behaviour and interviewee behaviour (including stimming) need to be appreciated as does the type of investigative questioning and strategies that have been shown to be effective when interviewing autistic victims, witnesses and suspects.
Despite some common traits within the autistic community, Dr Stephen Shore’s quote, that “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism”, should be a starting point for interviewers. Interviewers must appreciate that as long as they treat each autistic interviewee as an individual, and use appropriate interviewing techniques, they will offer the best possible service in giving that interviewee an effective voice in the criminal justice system.”
Philip J Morris
Specialist Communication Techniques
http://specialistcommunicationtechniques.co.uk/
Our Group’s History
For some time, we have been gathering contacts in the First Responder realms of operation. Some decent conversations but no traction.
Montgomery County started a local initiative in behavioral health and suicide prevention due to the rising suicide rate. The initial call to action had 550 in attendance and 4 hours of presentations. As I was leaving the convention center, I realized we could ride this momentum for First Responder supports serving citizens with learning differences of all ages.
I sent this email to the team at BHSPTaskForceMC@gmail.com:
"Today's Call to Action had magnificent synergy. May we please add one additional group:
Behavioral Health/Training/Community Development/First Responders
where we come together on supporting First Responders and CITs when they serve those with learning differences. We propose covering preschool through adults of all diagnoses in community and educational settings----when things go wrong and interventions of force are perceived to be needed----either as witnesses, victims, or suspects. We would cover neural wiring, behavioral redirects, diagnoses, modeling, co-facilitated trainings, etc., bringing all parties together.
You know, like you presented today.
Co-morbidity is rampant in our world of learning differences, and there is much to share.
Our team has been laying the groundwork for this, most of them are copied on this email. I personally volunteer to serve in any way and have been reaching out for some time. I was inspired by your meeting today to propose we share your m#omentum.
Could we please discuss this further?"
Their leadership team eventually nicely said "no".
Since that time, I've been keeping them in the loop as we push forward.
Eventually, we booked a conference room at The Woodlands Chamber and created our own call to action meeting. We have a small planning team, a much larger interest group, a LinkedIn forum group, and a listserv. We are also assembling an advisory council of resources.
Our intention is that there will be much more listening than talking and that the combined resources will help each First Responder group better their own internal processes and practices.
We don't think any one expert has all the answers.
Within the special population of neurodiversity/learning differences/disabilities, we are including those that might be victims, witnesses, suspects, students, children, adults, and workers.
By First Responders, we include but do not limit it to school staff, firefighters, police, and EMS.
In the longer term, if any of these groups would like educational workshops, we are creating those also.
It is not our intention to sell training in a sales pitch.
Everyone on our teams has skin in this game.
Find us on LinkedIn
Join our conversation!
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12130594/
and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/189942292216716/