Hilo autism advocate developed alert cards to assist first responders, help people with disabilities

Rosalinda Larkin of Hilo faced an unimaginable situation in 2018 when she called police for help regarding her 25-year old autistic son who had left home while experiencing a crisis.

Although her son was not committing a crime and was not violent, the officer who found him ended up forcing him to the ground, resulting in a three-day hospital stay to treat a brain injury.

Larkin didn’t want anyone else to go through that situation, so over the past four years she has turned her wounds into wisdom by spending her free time working to make life safer for Big Island residents living with autism and other developmental disabilities.

This includes a new program that is working to create free informational cards to assist paramedics, police and other first responders coming to emergencies that involve people with specific needs.

Information on the alert cards are confidential and used only for emergencies. The cards are not designed to identify the holder as a person with a disability for any other purpose.

Larkin said at the time of her son’s “assault” there was no official protocol on the Big Island to facilitate interventions between first responders and people with developmental disabilities.

“It took every part of me to not react emotionally when I met with police officers,” she said. “But over time I realized that most of them were not trained to intervene in a crisis, especially involving a child or a person with a disability.”

In 2021, with no end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, Larkin decided to do something to address the problems she saw with dealing with people with certain disabilities and created the Autism Support and Disability Center. It is a nonprofit aimed to help people with disabilities and their families connect to a wide range of professional resources, especially during times of crisis.

While their first goal was to open a 24/7 call center for emergencies, Larkin has pivoted over the years and began working closely with the Hawaiʻi County Police Department and the National Alliance for Mental Illness Hawaiʻi when she became one of the educators for the police department’s crisis intervention training.

“The efforts Rosalinda has made working with our first responders through the trauma-informed care training she has championed for the Hawaiʻi Police Department has been a huge help in our community,” Hawaiʻi County Councilmember Jennifer Kagiwada said. She has a huge heart and is always looking for ways to make sure individuals with autism and their families are cared for and included in community life. “

Along with her two jobs at Bayada Home Health Care and Care of Hawaiʻi, Larkin helping to educate 42 police officers, 21 officers in Hilo and 21 officers in Kailua-Kona, once a year on how to respond to people in crisis who may have autism or other neurodevelopment disabilities.

The annual training teaches first responders how to deescalate the potential for danger and harm during encounters with people experiencing a mental health crisis.

“We want to prevent people with disabilities from getting injured, assaulted or even incarcerated when they are approached by police, and I’m so thankful that the Hawaiʻi Police Department is receptive to (crisis intervention training),” Larkin said. “Those who have been educated now know to have compassion, empathy and knowledge when responding to crises.

While the classes were helpful and well-received by the Hawaiʻi police, Lt. William Derr of the Hilo Community Policing Section brainstormed to see if more could be done. He ultimately helped develop the idea for the Alert Cards for First Responders.

The cards would communicate to others that a person may have a disability or specific needs, which is especially important in times of emergency.

“After one of the crisis intervention training sessions with Rosalinda, I was thinking about how we could make the interactions better for people living with autism, or other disabilities, with first responders, but also with people in their everyday life,” Derr said.

“For example, if a manager at a store is confused by a person who may be acting a certain way, but then is able to see that they are autistic with a card, bracelet or necklace, an interaction may be better for all parties involved.”

The success of the Alert Card for First Responders will be dependent on the situation and the functional ability of the person carrying the card, Derr said.

“The intention is for better outcomes, but this is not a get out of jail free card,” he said. “It is more of a tool. Disabilities affect people differently, so it may not be feasible for someone to carry a card in a wallet, but it would work to have a bracelet or necklace with the information. This is a program that can be adjusted and imagination is the only barrier to more ideas.

To support various levels of personal privacy, Larkin has created three different versions of the alert card with one version made to accommodate those who do not wish to disclose personal information.

“The cards will provide safety and peace of mind for people with autism and other disabilities, their families and caregivers,” Larkin said. “An alert card is also helpful for first responders to identify health conditions and know how to assess them during an encounter.

To learn more about the Alert Card for First Responders, the Autism Support and Disabilities Center will be hosting its annual symposium in March that gives people living with disabilities, their families and caregivers the opportunity to connect with professionals working in healthcare, social services, nonprofit organizations and at the state and county.

Speakers will share their perspective and answer any questions during the symposium, which will be held on March 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

 I support Rosalinda and her org. The efforts she’s made working with our first responders-the trauma informed care training she has championed for HPD has been a huge help in our community. She has a huge heart and is always looking for ways to make sure individuals with autism and their families are cared for and included in community life.