Description
This section examines law enforcement’s best practices interacting with people with disabilities.
Recommendations
| Ensure that University first responders and law enforcement employees are trained regarding: the disability civil rights mandates that the University is held to under State and Federal laws and the best techniques for communication with persons with disabilities (including people with mental disabilities). |
| Ensure that University law enforcement personnel are trained in best practice for evacuation of disabled people, and how to safely transport large medical devices such as motorized wheelchairs. |
| Ensure that University law enforcement personnel are trained in best practices for dealing with Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals. |
| If the University has any areas designated as holding areas for persons who have been detained by University law enforcement, ensure that those have been evaluated by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) and that communications systems in these areas are accessible to persons with disabilities. |
Training
Leads should take the training themselves, then assign it to those employees in their unit for whom they believe it is relevant. Assigning to all employees is recommended. Any processes, procedures or protocols recommended for development in the training should be created.
Additional Resources
- Communicating With Individuals With Disabilities Policies and Training for Law Enforcement Personnel(link is external)
- Talking with Police: How People with Disabilities Can Stay Safe and Get Accommodations They Need(link is external)
- Interacting with Law Enforcement and Other First Responders. Making Arrests and Detention Accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People(link is external)
- National Network: Interacting with Individuals with Disabilities in Law Enforcement