The Brief
- Tampa City Council will consider a proposal on Thursday to give ID cards to people with autism to help improve communication with police officers.
- The cards would allow drivers with autism to discreetly alert officers during traffic stops or other encounters.
- Advocates say the goal is to reduce misunderstandings and build trust between law enforcement and the autism community.
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa has been an officially “autism-friendly” city since 2018, but city leaders believe more can be done to strengthen communication between police and people on the spectrum.
What we know:
A new proposal going before City Council on Thursday would introduce ID cards issued by the Tampa Police Department.
People with autism could present the card during an interaction with officers, such as a traffic stop, to alert them to their diagnosis.
The cards are being discussed as an extension of the “autism alert” stickers some cities already offer for cars and homes.…