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Sunday, June 01, 2014

WCSO PRESS RELEASE - Autism Awareness Training

PRESS RELEASE - Autism Awareness Training

On Saturday, May 31st, 2014, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office will host a class titled “Autism Awareness for Law Enforcement” at the Salisbury Fire Department Headquarters, 325 Cypress Street, Salisbury. Mr. Scott Fowler will be presenting.

Mr. Fowler has worked in public education for over two decades, serving as a teacher, lead teacher, assistant principal, principal and working in a central office capacity. Additionally, he is the parent of a child on the spectrum. He has provided training's for teachers/educators, the hospitality industry, law enforcement and other enterprises that benefit from a better understanding from autism awareness.

One in 68 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and persons with ASD are 7 times more likely to interact with law enforcement than the general population. The most common interactions between law enforcement and the ASD community occur during missing child/person situations, domestic issues (concerns in the home with the individual or the caregiver), as a victim reporting a crime or after having committed an offense. This training will assist police officers to better recognize and interact with members of our community with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

They never interacted with law enforcement when the state hospitals were open in Cambridge and Crownsville.

Anonymous said...

Credit given to both parties for this workshop, yes families need to be taken into consideration and yes this is condition on the rise.

Anonymous said...

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is now classified as Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASD is now the diagnosis du jour and the politically correct way of saying a child had the misfortune of being born to useless "parents." Most of the children would be "cured" with something as simple as stricter and a less chaotic life due to the "parents" poor lifestyle choices.

Anonymous said...

I had Mr. Fowler as a teacher in the 5th grade at Pemberton Elementary. Glad to hear that he's still doing great work for our community!

Anonymous said...

This is the same Scott Fowler that "resigned" aka was "fired" by the BOE for being incompetent. Just because he has an autistic son doesn't make him qualified to teach this class. Sounds to me like a waste of money.

Anonymous said...

Wow, some of you really are hurtful. I am always so proud to live on the Eastern Shore until I see comments like these.

So, my son with Autism should be in a mental institution? I am a useless parent?

You don't know him or I at all. He is a loving, sweet kid. Through no fault of his or mine he struggles with Autism. I am thankful for this program and wish we (parents) could be involved in it.

Anonymous said...

ASD is a hoax. It was dreamed up by the drug companies and embraced by the school systems so they can administer modified tests to the students 'diagnosed' with this fake 'disorder.'
Some supposed 'symptoms' of ADS include-A need for sameness and routine. We all have routines. Some like to brush their teeth before a shower others after. Some like to make their beds upon wakening, others wait.
-Unusual focuses. Used to be a valued trait called attention to details.
-Preoccupation with something such as video games, certain toys. Everyone is preoccupied with something. Used to be called a hobby or something enjoyable done in your leisure time.
-Failure to establish friendships. Some people are more content to be in their own company. Shy and not a 'people person.'
-Lack of empathy. A personality trait. Some people do not possess the same feelings of sympathy as others or don't express it due to not knowing how to express themselves. Everyone feels uncomfortable in situations like funerals.

There are more but basically if you get right down to it everyone of us exhibits signs of this faux 'disorder.'

Anonymous said...

It's the new real. A child who is socially awkward and quirky is immediately labeled as having autism. Recently this has lead to some of the mass shootings.
Unfortunately there is a push to socially engineer children so they all think and act alike. Individualism isn't looked at as a positive trait anymore. It's sad and will lead to more and more instances of violence. It's morbid what is being inflicted upon the children these days in telling them they have some problem just because they are different. Parents need to be aware and not trust anyone who says their child has autism. The schools do NOT have your child's best interest at heart and don't EVER fool yourself into thinking they do. The "administrators" will lie to you at the drop of a hat. Their handlers, the politicians, are who they aim to please even at the expense of the students. It's all about test scores so the politicians can brag about having good schools. The more students labeled the more modified testing that can be done.

Anonymous said...

Most children are diagnosed before ever entering school. Your "school system is the bad guy" argument doesn't work at all.

There are also a great deal of children who are home schooled and have been diagnosed.

I am personally relieved that we have people like 9:52 and 8:09 around to tell us all about their opinion on faux disorders. I mean, gosh I bet you went to four whole years of high school to come up with those opinions?

Anonymous said...

I agree most cops get this very training at E.S.C.J.A. Who is paying for this. This is a waste of tax money. Any cop who does not recognize a kid is "special" is that correct enough, and does not know how to deal with them should not be a cop.

I truly hope ALL depuites are attending this awesome training. I hope they are not camping, or umping a sporting event, riding the Harley,etc...

Anonymous said...

10:22 Darwinism / survival of the fittest would prevent this condition from spreading...we have so many special accommodations for folks that wouldn't have made it in cave-man times...laws of stupidity!

Anonymous said...

10:28-You are wrong. FYI-most children are diagnosed with ASD at ages 5 and above so to clarify for you, this means school age.

Another clarification is your homeschooling point. Many children that have been diagnosed with the disorder, are taken out of school and homeschooled because parents aren't convinced the problem exists (and rightfully so). Very very few homeschooled and private school students are ever diagnosed with the disorder-Fact.
I am not going to go into my credentials because you will think I am bragging, but I can assure you most MD's think ASD is a fraud, though most won't say so publically. It's right up there with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, 2 other controversial conditions which most MD's don't think exist unless they can profit off of the diagnosis.

Anonymous said...



AMEN 8:09 & 9:52!!! I don’t know when a disability became an asset.

Oh yes I do, when parents wanted to blame someone else for their child’s problems, or when parents wanted a PERFECT child and had to come up with reasons as to why the child isn’t perfect (by the way, no one is…)

And when psych people wanted to find a way to make a little extra money.

And when educators wanted to find a way to blame the child when the child didn’t learn.

I love the way the world has moved away from personal responsibility and reality to finding an excuse for anything…

We’ve come a long way, baby!!!

Anonymous said...

ASD as well as Aspergers Syndrome are a hoax. The NY Times has had stories about this fraud.

"Nevertheless, children and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers — but who have no language-acquisition problems — are placed on the autism spectrum.

A United States Department of Education directive contributed to the over-diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. It called for enhanced services for children diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and for children with “pervasive developmental disorder — not otherwise specified (P.D.D.-N.O.S.),” a diagnosis in which children with social disabilities could be lumped. The diagnosis of Asperger syndrome went through the roof. Curiously, in California, where children with P.D.D.-N.O.S. were not given enhanced services, autism-spectrum diagnoses did not increase. Too little science and too many unintended consequences."

Anonymous said...

ASD is complete and utter BS. Great article concerning it in the May 14th, 2014 edition of the New York Magazine. It is titled-

"Autism Spectrum: Are You On It?"

Anonymous said...

629-As a student of Mr. Fowler, I can say with complete confidence, he was one of the best teachers I had while attending public school in Wicomico Co. from k-12. Take it for what it is.

JoeAlbero said...

7:16, Good for you. The world needs more people like you.

Anonymous said...

644-Quoting the NY Times? Since when has that rag been a qualified source? Not in this century.