Drive for Success: AIM students connect with police in unique autism program

Seven students from the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) participated in an innovative program called “Drive for Success,” designed for licensed drivers on the autism spectrum. Organized by the Autism Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the program aimed to enhance understanding between young adults with autism and local law enforcement.

AIM Director Laurie Baker shared that approximately 15 police officers from various departments, including Erie and state police, engaged with students over three interactive sessions. These sessions provided hands-on training, ranging from practicing real-time traffic stops to learning how to respond in case of an accident. Baker noted that this initiative facilitated a valuable exchange, helping officers understand how to effectively interact with individuals on the autism spectrum during police encounters.

The first session was an opportunity for students and officers to build rapport. They shared dinner, attended a presentation on appropriate behavior during traffic stops and accidents, and participated in a Q&A session. Each student received a blue card to accompany their registration and insurance forms, which identified them as drivers with an autism diagnosis and included helpful descriptors for officers. The students also had the chance to examine police vehicles up close.

The second session focused on practical experience, where students practiced police stops in an empty parking lot, allowing both students and officers to become comfortable with the procedures. The final session took place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 6-8 p.m. at the Autism Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, featuring dinner, a program debrief, and a graduation ceremony to celebrate the participants' achievements.

PHOTO: Participants, including seven AIM students, gather during a session of the Autism Society of NWPA’s “Drive for Success” initiative.