By Baltimore Police Department
In recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) is proud to launch a new initiative designed to better support neurodivergent individuals and enhance safe, effective interactions with law enforcement.
BPD’s Community Partnerships Unit is introducing a Neurodivergent Individuals Database, a voluntary program that allows individuals or caregivers to securely share important information with the Department. Participants who enroll in the program are provided with a tactile keychain featuring a unique identification number. If an officer encounters an individual who may be in distress, has eloped or a family member that requires assistance, the keychain allows officers to quickly access critical information through the secure database.
This initiative comes amid growing concern nationwide regarding missing and eloped neurodivergent children and adults, who may be at increased risk due to communication challenges, sensory sensitivities or difficulty responding to traditional law enforcement approaches.
“Ensuring the safety of all members of our community, especially those who may be more vulnerable is a top priority,” said Police Commissioner Richard J. Worley. “This program provides our officers with tools to better understand and assist neurodivergent individuals while helping to prevent misunderstandings and improve outcomes.”
Credit: Courtesy photo
Communication differences between law enforcement and neurodivergent or non-verbal individuals can sometimes lead to confusion, increased anxiety or unintended escalation. To address these challenges, BPD is expanding access to practical, user-friendly tools and training designed to support clearer, safer interactions.
The Department is working in partnership with its Education and Training Section to train officers on the Blue Envelope Program, an initiative that allows drivers to voluntarily disclose that they are autistic or neurodivergent during a traffic stop. The envelope provides guidance to officers and helps reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings or escalated encounters. BPD has ordered 1,500 Blue Envelope toolkits for distribution.
In addition, BPD continues to distribute first responder communication facilitator cards in partnership with the Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake. These cards assist officers in communicating with limited or non-verbal individuals by offering simple prompts and visual cues. The Autism Society provided the Department with 2,000 cards in 2024 and will provide an additional 1,000 updated cards.
These efforts, in addition to partnerships with Pathfinders for Autism, are being led by the Community Partnerships Unit’s new Special Liaison for Neurodivergent Populations. These initiatives are focused on improving outcomes and building trust between law enforcement and the neurodivergent community.
Available Resources (see attached):
- Neurodivergent Individuals Database Information Sheet
- Neurodivergent Keychain
- Communication Facilitator Card
For community members interested in learning more about the database or to sign-up, can email the Department at BPDLiaisons@baltimorepolice.org.