OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. – About 200 first responders in Desoto County are getting some valuable training that will help them better respond in some of the toughest situations.
WREG talked with a firefighter who makes sure those people know exactly what to do when dealing with someone with autism.
When firefighters, police and other emergency crews respond to calls, they’re forced to make quick decisions.
Sometimes those decisions are even tougher, when coming in contact with a person living with a hidden disability like autism.
That’s why Bill Cannata, a firefighter from Boston, travels across the country training first responders.
He said it’s important for them to understand some of the challenges people with autism face.
“Also how they process questions, and the delays. We need to have our first responders slow it down a little bit, so they can have time to respond in the appropriate way,” Cannata said.
Cannata understands autism better than most people because his 24-year-old son, Ted, lives with it everyday.
He can’t speak, and requires care from his parents each and every day.
“We have a lot of communication issues, a lot of behaviors and just teaching him is very difficult. We spend a lot of time helping him through daily life so he can be a better person,” Cannata explained.
First responders said hearing Cannata share his own personal story about autism gives them a new perspective.
“I think this is very important for my officers in these times now. We deal with so many mentally ill or autistic kids. It’s important we get our officers the training,” said Olive Branch Police Chief Don Gammage.
Cannata has trained more than 32,000 people across the country so far.
ARC Northwest Mississippi put on the event.
