21-004 special needs final ppt embedded videos

Copyright © 2020 by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission. All Rights Reserved.

Recognizing & Responding to Individuals with Special Needs

21-004

21-004 – Recognizing & Responding to Individuals with Special Needs

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• Discuss the overall recognition of behaviors

• Appropriately and lawfully respond to individuals in crisis

• Review the Critical Decision-Making Model (CDM) during interactions with individuals with special needs

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Our Training Mission


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Our Training Mission

• Utilize proven communication techniques and de-escalation tactics

• Provide resources and services to individuals with special needs

• Discuss additional training opportunities for officers


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- Abraham Maslow

Pre-Response Mindset

• Acknowledge the diverse special needs community

• Your interaction makes a difference

• Provide the appropriate response and assistance

“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”


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Overall Recognition of Behaviors

• Challenging to spot specific disabilities, often have no outward or obvious signs

• More important to recognize overall signs and behaviors

• Officers need to be reminded –they do not need to diagnose


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Potential Behaviors• Runs away• Stimming, rocking, spinning, repetition of words• Doesn’t immediately follow commands• Doesn’t look you in the face or make eye contact• Doesn’t seem to understand or pretends to understand

what is being said• Quickly admits to committing a crime• Hesitant reporting a victimization or sharing what happened


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Potential Behaviors

• Ask yourself – “What’s really going on here?”

• Build rapport with the individual

• Ask questions

• Assess the entirety of the situation

• Slow things down, observe, and gather more information

• Your response can have a positive or negative impact


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Informed Awareness• Go beyond situational awareness:

• What to look for• How to look for cues

• Read people’s behaviors and actions:• Baseline – typical behavior• Anomaly – atypical behavior

Baseline + Anomaly = Decision


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Critical Decision-making Model (CDM) Review

• Organized way of making critical decisions

• Logical, straightforward and ethically-based thought process

• Provides guidance on how to ask key questions

• Explain actions after-the-fact

• Slow things down, observe, and gather more information

• Repetition – becomes second nature


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CDM Review – Ethical Core

ETHICS

VALUES

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

PROPORTIONALITY


Circular Process – Not Linear 13

CDM Review – Five Steps

ETHICS

VALUES

PROPORTIONALITY


Collect information

Assess the situation,

threats, & risks

Consider police powers and

agency policy

Identify options & determine

the best course of action

Act, review, &

re-assess


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• Collecting information is an ongoing process

• Key questions to ask yourself:• What do I know about this situation so far?• What additional information do I need?

What is the best way to get that information?

• What does my training and experience tell me about this type of incident?

CDM: Collect Information


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• Who called the police?

• What prompted the call?• Suspicious person• Trespassing• Disorderly conduct• ”Crazy person”• “Under the influence”• Medical call



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• Who’s on the scene?

• What do we know about the individual?

• Are there issues of mental illness, substance abuse or disability?

• Any previous incidents?• Arrests, assaults, etc.

• What is the physical environment?

• Are there weapons?



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Evaluate the information gathered and decide:

• Do I need to take immediate action?

• What additional resources do I need?

• Begin to develop a working strategy

CDM: Assess the Situation, Threats, & Risks


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Ask yourself:• Under what legal authority am I responding here?• Is this a matter for the police?• What legal powers do I have to take action, under

federal laws, state laws, and local ordinances?

CDM: Consider Police Powers & Agency Policy

• What agency policies control my response, particularly use-of-force and de-escalation policies?

• Are there other issues to consider, such as jurisdictional issues or mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies?


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Narrow down your options by asking yourself:• What exactly am I trying to achieve?• What are my options?• What are the contingencies for each option?• Should I act now or wait? (or is no action required?)• Do I have all the information I need to act now?• Is it appropriate to leave the scene?

CDM: Identify Options & Determine Best Course of Action


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• Slow the situation down

• Continue talking

• Keep in mind tactical repositioning

• Know when to take responsive action

CDM: Identify Options & Determine Best Course of Action


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• Take action

• Additional considerations

• Lessons learned

• Contemplate other options

CDM: Act, Review, & Re-assess


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CDM in Action

• Circular and reliable process

• CDM Core –Sanctity of human life

• Reinforces your daily mission to handle anysituation

ETHICS

VALUES

PROPORTIONALITY


Collect information

Assess the situation,

threats, & risks

Consider police powers and

agency policy

Identify options & determine

the best course of action

Act, review, & re-assess


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Police Response

• Importance of “Pre-Response Mindset”

• Treat others as you would want to be treated

• Review and analysis of police interactions

• Proper application of communication techniques

• Effectiveness of de-escalation tactics


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Officer Observations

• Balance information received from individual, caregivers, and others coupled with officer safety concerns

• Observe the individual’s behavior/signs of any possible impairment


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Potential Triggers• Be aware of the external environment

• Loud noises• Sirens• Lights flashing

• Your verbal and non-verbal language• Tone of voice• Speed of speech• Personal space (proxemics)• Body movements (kinesics)


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Video Debrief

• What was your first reaction to this situation?

• What did the officer do to change the dynamics of the situation?

Constantly assessing the situation

Slow the situation down

Build rapport


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A Promise to Listen• Humanize the experience

• Be respectful, approachable & accessible• Empathize and acknowledge

• Practice active listening• Attend• Follow• Reflect

Maintain tactical awareness


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How We Communicate

• Verbal

• Non-verbal

• Gestures

• Behavior

Communication comes in many forms


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What experiences have you had on the job with individuals with special needs who have challenges

with communicating?

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Video Debrief

Informed Awareness


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Source: Dr. George Thompson, Verbal Judo Institute

Five Universal Truths of Human Interaction

1. People feel the need to be respected

2. People would rather be asked than be told

3. People have a desire to know why

4. People prefer to have options over threats

5. People want to have a second chance


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Communicating with Caregivers

Ask:• What caused you to call today?• What makes today different from the days prior?• What behaviors do you see that make you believe that

something is more wrong than usual?

Foster opportunities for people to be heard


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Caregiver Perspective

• Withhold judgment

• Treat others as you would want to be treated

• Stay focused and objective

• Respect and understanding go a long way


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Video Debrief

• Good example of Informed Awareness

• Questions need to be concrete

• Always keep safety in mind


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Communicating with the Individual

Reminders:• Manage behavior• Maintain officer safety• SLOW DOWN• Don’t assume cooperation• Consider past LE experiences• Remove your ego and remain objective


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Communicating with the Individual

Reminders:• Have realistic and honest expectations• Speak to adults as adults• No touching, unless necessary• Request CIT/CIS officer• Use People-First language


People-first language emphasizes the person first, not the disability.

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What is People-First Language?


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Be Careful When Asking…

• When’s the last time you took your medications?

• Do you have a caregiver/doctor/case manager?

• Do you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes?

• Rephrase “why” questions to – “What brings you out here today?”


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Building Rapport

Ask the Individual:• Hi, I’m Bob, how are you today?• What’s going on today?• How can I help you?• Are you okay?• Do you need to see a doctor for any reason?• Is there someone I could call for you?


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Building Rapport

Your Goal:• Get the person to feel comfortable with you• Let them know you’re here to help• Get as much information as possible

Take your time!!!


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Strategies to Promote Cooperation

Explain what you’re doing and why

Avoid police jargon

Use simple and practical terminology


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Tactical De-escalation

• Apply proven strategies, actions, and responses

• Project a calm and confident presence

• Slow the situation down

• Reduce the need for force


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Stages of Escalation

Calm

Trigger

Agitation

Acceleration

Peak

De-escalation

Recovery

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De-escalation Tactics: Non-verbal Techniques

Positive Message:• Appear calm, relaxed, alert• Balance eye contact• Maintain neutral facial expression• Minimize body movements• Position yourself for safety


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De-escalation Tactics: Non-verbal Techniques

Negative Message:• Point or shake your finger• Showing disgust, boredom, or impatience• Touch – physical contact can be misinterpreted as

threatening

“If an officer was interacting with me the way I am interacting with this person, would I be cooperative?”


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De-escalation Tactics: Verbal Techniques

• Convey listening along with simple body movements

• Take your time

• Keep the lines of communication open

• Engage in active listening


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Incorporating Active Listening with Your Verbal De-escalation Techniques

Use “I” statements

Engage with open-ended questions

Employ the mirroring technique

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Incorporating Active Listening with Your Verbal De-escalation Techniques

Paraphrase4

Consider your body language5


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Response to Resistance

• Use the appropriate level of force

• “Contact Maturity” – What’s really going on here?

• If a crime is not being committed, your primary goal is to HELP the people in need


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Response to Resistance

• Your second goal is cooperation

• Keep in mind people in crisis may be feeling

• Threatened

• Out of control• Out of options


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Ongoing De-escalation

• Opportunity to de-escalate never ends

• Physical force should be your last resort

Continue to apply the CDM


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Behavior: Runs away from officer

Sample Response: • Consider why the person is running and if fear may be the cause• Decrease fear by making a personal connection with the individual

as soon as possible and ask what they need to feel safe• Listen to any support people or family members nearby who are

familiar with the person. They may be able to provide tips on how to calm the person down and establish good rapport

Recognition and Response


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Behavior: Stimming (self-stimulating behaviors, like hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, or repeating words and phrases)

Sample Response: • Allow the person to stim as needed – this often helps people process anxiety

• Ask what the person needs to help with effective communication. If they can’t communicate with you, first, try giving the person some space, then try again.

• Some people will communicate in ways officers may not expect (for example, through communication cards or apps, gestures, typing or verbal phrases that may not be recognizable to an officer)



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Behavior: Does not immediately follow commands

Sample Response: • Give the person time to fully process the information• Officers should practice patience and understand that they may

have to repeat their commands to the person• Officers can also physically demonstrate what they would like the

individual to do



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Behavior: Will not look officer in the face or make eye contact with the officer

Sample Response: • Don’t assume that lack of eye contact is a lack of respect or that

the person is hiding something; instead, consider if this may be a typical response by the person

• For some people with special needs, eye contact can feel very intimidating and uncomfortable



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Behavior: Quickly and easily admits to committing a crime

Sample Response: • Move forward cautiously• Especially people with intellectual disability may be easily

pressured or persuaded by so-called friends and others to falsely confess, in an attempt to please and feel accepted by others



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Behavior: Does not seem to understand what is being said (ex. Miranda rights), or seems to be pretending to understand


Sample Response: • Based on the person’s reactions, officers need to gauge the person’s

comprehension with what is being said• Ask the person, “can you tell me what that means to you?”• Ask the person what is needed to help with communication• If available, have a support person present who can advocate for

the person to help them understand their rights


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Behavior: Is hesitant to report victimization or share what happened in a clear, logical, or consistent way


Sample Response: • Reassure the person they are in a safe place• Ask the person what would help them feel safe to share what happened• Tell the person you believe them• Let the person tell their story in their own way and in their own time• Being traumatized, in addition to having a disability, can make it that

much more difficult for someone to report victimization


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Police Legitimacy

Procedural Justice Values:

Trustworthiness

Respect

Neutrality

Voice

Justice-based Policing Pillars:

Dignity

Equity

Explain

Listen


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Calling the ExpertsCrisis Intervention Teams (CIT)

• Specially-trained certified officers• First-responder model of police-based crisis

intervention with community, health care, and advocacy partnerships

Crisis Intervention Specialists (CIS)• Specially-trained officers• Collaborate with the mental health system


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Calling the Experts

Co-Responders• Behavioral Health/Social Workers alongside law

enforcement officers

Mobile Crisis• Crisis Workers provide support and resolution of

crisis situations


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PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Developmental-Programs.aspx

(ODP) – Bureau of Support for Autism and Special Populationshttps://www.dhs.pa.gov/contact/DHS-Offices/Pages/ODP-Bureau%20of%20Autism%20Services.aspx

PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Mental-Health-In-PA/Pages/default.aspx

PA Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH)https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/odhh/Pages/default.aspx

PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Serviceshttps://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/bbvs/Pages/default.aspx

The Arc of Pennsylvaniahttps://thearcpa.org/

United Cerebral Palsy of Central PAhttps://thearcpa.org/

State Resources


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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Keystone Pennsylvania https://www.namikeystonepa.org/

Community of Practice for Supporting Familieshttps://www.myodp.org/mod/page/view.php?id=25542/

Disability Rights PAhttps://www.disabilityrightspa.org/

PA Autism Support & Advocacy Groupshttps://paautism.org/support-groups/

PA Family Networkhttps://www.myodp.org/mod/page/view.php?id=8950/

Parent to Parent of Pennsylvaniahttp://www.parenttoparent.org/

State Resources


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Local Resources

• Services are county-specific

• County Contact Information for Pennsylvaniahttp://pafamiliesinc.org/understanding-systems/intellectual-disabilities/intellectual-developmental-disabilities-county-contact-information-for-pennsylvania


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Tech Resources


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Professional Development

• CIT and CIS specializing training• Continuing Law Enforcement Training (CLEE)

https://mpoetc.psp.pa.gov/training/Pages/Continuing‐Law‐Enforcement‐Education.aspx

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