How many special needs parents worry about their child having interactions with first responders (police/EMS) and being misunderstood, or worse, seriously injured. The answer is far too many. Far too many parents worry about their autistic kids having encounters with police, EMS, or other first responders, that don't go well.
My guest this week is Janeé Harteau, President and CEO of Vital Aware Services. She has over 30 years of law enforcement experience and is very aware of the potential safety issues that can arise due to police or EMS misunderstanding the behaviors of our loved ones with disabilities.
The Vitals app automatically provides police, EMS, and other first responders with information on how to better help or interact with our autistic loved ones. Vitals is saving lives and we should talk about what it is, why we need it, and how it works.
About Janeé Harteau:
Chief Janeé Harteau (retired) was Minneapolis’ 52nd Police Chief and the first female chief in the city’s history. She initiated MPD 2.0 immediately after becoming chief, systematically changing accountability and transparency within the Department, while maximizing officer performance and advancement opportunities within the organization. This is one of the reasons Fortune Magazine named her one of the world’s top 50 leaders in April 2017.
For more information and to download the Vitals app, click here.
Find me at theautismdad.com or listen.theautismdad.com
Sponsors
This episode is brought to you by PeerKnect. PeerKnect is a free to download app that helps parents of special needs kids find playdates, social activities, and sensory friendly outings. Click here to download the FREE app.

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Mentioned in this episode:
BrainyAct
BrainyAct® provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs delivered via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and ADHD. BrainyAct activates the underdeveloped areas of the brain through exercises that strategically target a child’s balance, gravity, gross/fine motor, rhythm and timing, visual motor perception, and memory.

Putting hope in motion means putting your family first in everything we do and using movement to affect real change. Shifting hope to a reality.

91% of families report global brain improvements after four months.
Our company was built on the premise to create real, measurable, and visible change that shows you how your child is improving through data.

BrainyAct is for homes and schools. Visit Kinuu.com. Use promo code THEAUTISMDAD and save $500. This is a limited time offer.
Visit BrainyAct
Happy Ladders
Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home

Happy Ladders includes activities that target 150+ essential developmental skills every toddler needs as well as assessments in 4 different developmental areas. There’s also an exclusive community of parents just like you, and professional coaching to ensure success for both you and your toddler.

To learn more, get a free trial, and take advantage of an exclusive, limited-time offer for my listeners, visit happyladders.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at checkout to save 50% off the monthly membership. Plus get a free one-on-one session as well as access to the Tantrums and Meltdowns mini-course. This is a limited-time offer so act now.
Visit Happy Ladders