Pennsylvania State Police have launched a statewide Blue Envelope Program to help people with disabilities communicate their needs during traffic stops and other encounters with law enforcement.
The voluntary program is intended to support people with conditions that may affect communication, including autism, intellectual disabilities and dementia.
The recognizable blue envelopes can hold information about a person’s communication preferences, sensory needs and other considerations that could help officers better understand their responses. Individuals and families also can use the envelopes to organize documents needed during a traffic stop.
“The ability to communicate effectively is critical to fostering understanding and building trust during any law enforcement encounter,” said Lt. Col. George L. Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “The Blue Envelope Program provides our members with another valuable resource to better understand the communication needs of all individuals and help make those interactions safer for everyone.”
State police said sensory sensitivities, difficulty processing verbal instructions and limited or nonverbal communication can affect how people respond during stressful encounters. The envelopes are intended to help officers recognize those needs and adjust their communication.
Pennsylvanians can pick up envelopes at their local state police station. The agency’s Office of Community Engagement also will distribute them at community events.
Station information is available through the agency’s online troop directory. Franklin County is part of Troop H, which also covers Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties.
“Every Pennsylvanian with a disability deserves to feel safe, respected, and understood, especially during interactions with law enforcement,” said Josie Badger, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities. “The Blue Envelope Program is an important step toward making these interactions safer and more accessible for everyone.”
The initiative builds on earlier state police efforts to improve interactions with people with autism and other disabilities.
Those efforts include informational cards people with autism can carry or save on their phones to help explain their communication needs. State police also received 445 sensory aid bags through a partnership between the Collaborative Autism Movement and Amazon, providing at least five bags for each station. The bags include headphones, weighted blankets, communication boards and other tools intended to support people with sensory sensitivities.
