It’s truly a privilege to be able to drive because it opens a world of independence.
When a person with a disability becomes a licensed driver, often there are adaptations one may need to operate a vehicle. There are other things that could come into play when a person has other disabilities such as autism.
Often, when a person has autism, communicating with others can be difficult. This can potentially pose a big problem when driving, especially if stopped by an officer. For those who drive, you know the drill. You’ll typically be told why you were stopped, then perhaps you’re asked your name and asked for your license and registration.
If a driver cannot comply with these commands or is acting out of the ordinary, it may give an officer the impression that they are under the influence of an illegal substance or may be having a mental crisis.
A new program spreading across Ohio is making it easier for drivers to communicate with police.
The Blue Envelope program will allow people with autism to keep all their credentials as a licensed driver inside the envelope. This is a great idea because a police officer will be able to recognize if a driver has autism just by the color of the envelope.
As I think about this program, it makes me happy because I can see that the world finally realizes people with disabilities can do all things, even drive.
Thinking ahead, I’m hoping this program will branch out to add different color envelopes for different disabilities. As a driver with cerebral palsy, I’d be remiss to say that I sometimes feel fearful of being stopped by an officer. This isn’t because I’m not obeying the law but because my disability causes me to have a speech impairment that can be hard to understand if you’re not willing to take the time to try. Another characteristic of my disability that can throw off an officer is some involuntary movements that might mimic someone who has been drinking.
Again, being stopped by an officer can be a scary situation when the unawareness of my disability comes into play. This can also discourage a person with a disability from wanting or trying to drive.
I’m very happy to see Ohio taking steps toward inclusion for Ohioans with disabilities.
Hoping this can be a national initiative to improve communication with the two groups all around.
Good stuff! Happy to learn about this!
Anything that improves communication is worth pursuing. I hope it works out.
Kim & Margie,
Thanks for the comment.