Stephen Eustis: Why Pennsylvania needs autism training for police

As a parent, I watch my son, Carter, mesmerized by Formula 1 racing on TV, his quiet determination hinting at a future navigating Pennsylvania’s roads. Carter, who has nonverbal autism, is among the one in 31 children nationally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with nearly 47,000 students in Pennsylvania’s intermediate units identified as being on the spectrum. 

For families like mine, severe autism brings unique challenges — nonverbal communication, sensory overload, and intensive support needs that shape every moment. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s speech last month noted that 25 percent of autistic individuals face such profound challenges, yet many may one day drive. My daydream turns to worry imagining a traffic stop. Will an officer misread Carter’s silence or stimming as defiance? 

Thousands of Pennsylvania families share this fear, and it’s time for action.

Baltimore, Maryland, shows an example of the way forward. On April 12, 2025, their police department partnered with the Autism Society Baltimore-Chesapeake for a mock car stop event at Coppin State University. Drivers with autism practiced interactions, using disclosure cards to signal their diagnosis, while officers learned to navigate behaviors like sensory overload. The result? Safer encounters and stronger trust. Pennsylvania, with autism rates climbing five percent annually in our schools, must mandate autism training for all police officers to protect our community, especially those with severe autism.

The need is urgent. Autism diagnoses have surged 300 percent nationally since 2000, and RFK’s remarks on health and disability have spotlighted this rise, urging states to act. Families of the 25 percent with severe autism — those requiring very substantial support — face daily hurdles: communication barriers, behavioral misunderstandings, and constant advocacy. In Pennsylvania, where there’s no law requiring police to undergo autism-specific training, these families are vulnerable. Act 30 of 2019 ensures training in judicial settings, but not for the split-second decisions of a traffic stop. Without preparation, officers may misinterpret autistic behaviors — avoiding eye contact, repetitive movements, or delayed responses — as noncompliance. While the Pennsylvania State Police offer informational cards for autistic drivers, these are not enough. Families shouldn’t rely on luck that their local department is prepared, with only a few counties currently implementing the Blue Envelope program so far.

The solution is clear: Pennsylvania must pass legislation requiring all officers to complete autism awareness training. This would teach recognition of autistic behaviors, especially for Level 3 individuals, alongside de-escalation techniques and clear, calm communication. Programs like Baltimore’s mock car stops should be statewide, letting officers and autistic drivers, including those with severe autism who may drive, practice together, building confidence and community ties.

At least eleven states, including Florida and Massachusetts, mandate such training, integrating it into recruit curricula or ongoing education. Pennsylvania can partner with autism advocacy groups that range both in small and large sizes to design programs tailored to severe autism’s complexities, with universities like Temple or Pitt hosting mock stops. Funding isn’t a barrier — federal grants from the Department of Justice’s Community Policing Services can cover costs, along with reallocation of funds already available at the state level. Baltimore’s success thrives on nonprofit partnerships, not big budgets. The cost of lawsuits, injuries, and eroded trust is far steeper.

Skeptics might argue police are overburdened, but autism training is a tool, not a burden. Understanding how to approach an autistic driver, especially one with Level 3 challenges, makes stops smoother and safer. Others might question costs, yet Pennsylvania’s annual police liability settlements dwarf training expenses. Taking this measure a step further and incorporating already used license plate reading technology can further streamline the information to officers before they even have a face-to-face encounter with an individual with special needs. This isn’t just about autism but about better policing for all, from veterans with PTSD to seniors with dementia, to neurotypical drivers.

The 2025-26 legislative session is our chance. Harrisburg lawmakers can craft a bill ensuring every officer, from Erie to Philadelphia, is ready to serve our growing autistic population, including the 25 percent with severe needs. RFK’s speech has ignited a national conversation so let’s channel it into action and make this one of the most insightful and impactful legislative sessions in history for drivers with disabilities such as autism. Readers, call your state representative, share your stories, demand change. Picture Carter, and thousands like him, driving one day with confidence, knowing officers understand their needs. Baltimore’s program and state’s legislation proved it is possible; now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn.

Let’s ensure we have a commonwealth where no family fears a traffic stop. For Carter, for our kids, for all of us — let’s make autism training the law.

Stephen Eustis, Jr. is a Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, resident studying political science at Southern New Hampshire University (Sept. ’25). Connect with me on X @sjeustisjr.