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THAT’S THE NUMBER OF ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 84 ON THE AUTISM AUTISM SPECTRUM HERE IN OUR STATE. THE HELENA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IMPLEMENTING A NEW INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO CREATE MORE INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR DRIVERS. �������� 13 S ERIN LLEWELLYN TELLS US ABOUT THE BLUE ENVELOPE PROGRAM, THE FIRST IN THE STATE. IT’S A SIMPLE GESTURE THAT GOES A LONG WAY. 20 PLUS YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE EASIEST PROGRAMS TO GET IT IN. THE HELENA POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ROLL OUT ITS BLUE ENVELOPE PROGRAM ON FRIDAY. THE BLUE ENVELOPE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP DRIVERS WHO ARE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM HAVE BETTER INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS. OFFICER JEFF MURPHY WITH THE DEPARTMENT SAYS HE AND HIS TEAM GOT THE PROJECT OFF THE GROUND IN LESS THAN 45 MINUTES. THERE’S NO NO QUESTION ABOUT IS IT NEEDED? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. AND A COUPLE EMAILS LATER, WE’RE READY TO GO. DRIVERS ON THE SPECTRUM CAN PUT COPIES OF THEIR LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE IN THE BLUE ENVELOPE. WE’VE HAD SOME INSTANCES IN THE PAST, NOT NECESSARILY ON TRAFFIC STOPS, BUT WHERE PEOPLE IN MENTAL DISTRESS NEED ASSISTANCE THAT WE’RE NOT SURE OF, OF WHAT ROUTE TO GO WITH THEM, WHETHER IT’S A A MENTAL CRISIS OR WHETHER IT’S A MEDICAL CONDITION. HELPING THEM RESPOND TO CALLS INVOLVING PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SOMETIMES CUES AND CHARACTERISTICS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS ARE MISREAD BY INDIVIDUALS AS MAYBE BEING GUILTY WHEN THEY’RE NOT. AND IT’S JUST A WAY THEIR THEIR PERSONALITY IS CREATING MORE INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR EVERYONE. BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY AND BETTER INTERACT WITH THEM AND GET THEM THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED, WHETHER IT’S ON A TRAFFIC STOP OR A TRAFFIC COLLISION, OR WHETHER IT’S JUST DAY TO DAY INTERACTIONS. IN HELENA, AARON LEWELLYN �������� 13. AGAIN, BLUE ENVELOPES WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY,