Greenwich Township hosts first meet and greet for families with disabilities, strengthening community ties with local police, emergency responders
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – On Tuesday night, families and students with disabilities in Greenwich Township had the opportunity to connect with local law enforcement and emergency responders during the first-ever meet and greet event, held at Greenwich Township Elementary School.
The event, organized by School Resource Officer Kate Proscia-Berger, was a tremendous success and provided a meaningful chance for families to engage with the police department and members of the Greenwich Township Emergency Squad.
Officer Proscia-Berger’s dedication and hard work in bringing the community together played a key role in the event’s success. Families had the chance to meet first responders, ask questions, and learn more about how the police department and emergency services are preparing to support individuals with disabilities, particularly children on the autism spectrum.
The Greenwich Township Police Department emphasized that they are committed to ensuring their officers are trained to interact effectively with individuals with developmental disabilities. This is especially important for families who may hesitate to call 911 due to concerns that officers might not understand how to interact with their children. The event was an opportunity to reassure families that local police are receiving specialized training in these critical areas.
As part of ongoing efforts to better serve all members of the community, officers in New Jersey are required to complete a course called “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Training for First Responders”.
This training was developed with the purpose of informing emergency responders of the risks associated with autism or an intellectual or other developmental disability, as well as providing instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques concerning these disabilities.
