More than 150 first responders from the Capital Region attended the state's first Autism Training Program, on Friday, to learn more about interacting with individuals on the Autism Spectrum.
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara was at the training with his son, Michael, who lives with autism.
He says sometimes he may flap his hands, he may repeat words over and over again, he may make sudden movements, and he may not look at people directly in the face, or in the eyes, and that these are all things that can be misunderstood by law enforcement.
Santabarbara is the Chair of the Assembly's Subcommittee on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and authored the proposal that was passed as part of this year's state budget, to fund the statewide training program.
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