The following is a press release issued by the Redwood Coast Regional Center:
Redwood Coast Regional Center is proud to announce that we have partnered with the City of Ukiah Police Department and Ukiah Chief of Police Noble Waidelich to facilitate a one day seminar for Lake and Mendocino County First Responders. This seminar will be offered on April 19, 2022 and again on April 21, 2022 8:30am to 5:00pm at the Ukiah Conference Center and will focus of Autism, Neurocognitive Disorders and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. We will be bringing in subject matter experts, community organizations and community stakeholders to build relationships and help further the understanding, identification and best practices while responding to an emergency event. In the afternoon we will present communication devices commonly used for non-verbal individuals and demonstrate how to use these communication devices.
Dr. Laurie Sperry Ph.D., MSc Forensic Psychology and Criminology, will present on Autism, recovery, de-escalation, best practices, and Autism in the criminal justice system. Dr. Sperry is a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst-Doctoral and Director of Autism Services and Programs in Arvada, Colorado. Dr. Sperry was a founding member of Yale’s Autism Forensic Team and participated in global outreach providing services in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Africa, Saipan, Singapore and has developed a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Bangalore, India. Dr. Sperry has also completed ADOS evaluations in prisons, has testified as an expert witness in sentencing hearings and has written amicus curiae briefs that have been considered before the state supreme court.
We want to invite community organizations that are valuable resources for our Access and Functional Needs Community to present their organization and how first responders can utilize their services during an emergency providing support for those we serve.
If you are a first responder and wish to attend or a community organization serving Lake or Mendocino Counties, please contact Fred Keplinger at Redwood Coast Regional Center 707-462-3832 x 278 or fkeplinger@redwoodcoastrc.org.
