RICHMOND COUNTY — Richmond County first responders will have two opportunities in June to attend free autism training sessions coordinated by Meghann Lambeth to help emergency personnel better recognize and respond to individuals on the autism spectrum.
The free trainings will take place Tuesday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m. and Friday, June 12, at 1:30 p.m. at the Richmond Community College Robinette Building in downtown Rockingham, located at 121 S. Lee St. The sessions are open to all full- and part-time first responders and will last approximately 90 minutes. Both dates will offer the same training. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from the Autism Society of North Carolina.
The training will be conducted by Amy Perry, Autism Resource Specialist and Database Coordinator for the Autism Society of North Carolina, along with another specialist from ASNC.
As organizer of the event, Lambeth said her experiences raising her son, Jack, have shown her the importance of autism awareness and education, particularly for first responders who may encounter individuals with autism during emergency situations.
“Being the parent of a child with Autism, in my opinion, is comparable to being a first responder in that you often go into many aspects of providing care without a lot of information to guide your path,” said Lambeth.
Lambeth explained, “When Jack was younger and his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) became evident, the landscape in public education, healthcare, and private therapy providers was completely different than it is today because the number of people, especially young children, diagnosed with ASD was considerably lower.”
Lambeth said that while much of the focus surrounding autism education has centered on schools, healthcare providers and therapy services, she believes first responders also need specialized training as more children and adults are diagnosed with ASD.
“With the increase in children and adults diagnosed with ASD, the focus primarily is on education, healthcare and therapies, but the need for awareness and education extends well beyond those sectors,” Lambeth said. “Countless cases across the United States involving a person with ASD and first responders highlight the need for specialized training. This training should enable responders to identify and navigate situations involving people with ASD while considering their behavioral and intellectual differences.”
In 2021, Lambeth served as the Richmond County Chapter Leader for the Autism Society of North Carolina and helped coordinate a previous autism training for first responders at Hinson Lake. She said the response from attendees helped reinforce the need to continue offering the training locally.
Lambeth said she continued hearing positive feedback from attendees after the event and wanted to make the training available again for both returning and newer first responders.
“I still hear from attendees how beneficial the training was and how many new first responders in our community could benefit from receiving it. I’m very thankful Amy was happy to provide the training again and for Brent Barbee at Richmond Community College who welcomed us to use a classroom in the Robinette Building for the trainings,” said Lambeth.
According to Lambeth, participants can expect to learn about indicators for identifying Autism Spectrum Disorders, best practices for interacting with people with ASD, common behaviors associated with ASD, considerations and precautions for emergency situations involving people with ASD, and the broad range of intellectual and behavioral presentations associated with the disorder.
Although the training is focused on autism awareness, Lambeth noted there are similarities between cases involving individuals with autism and those with Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in missing person situations.
“There are commonalities among concerns, particularly regarding missing child/person cases, involving people with an ASD and Alzheimer’s,” said Lambeth.
Lambeth said one of the driving forces behind organizing the training is her concern that individuals with autism may be misunderstood during interactions with first responders or members of the public.
“As the parent of a 17-year-old son with ASD who has no immediately noticeable physical characteristics indicating his communication and behavior are not neurotypical, I am personally aware of the fear that strangers and first responders might misunderstand his responses as noncompliant, resistant, or insubordinate,” explained Lambeth.
Lambeth continued, “Since Jack was a toddler, I have experienced the discomfort of strangers who attempt to engage with him but don’t understand why he doesn’t respond as his peers would. I have to interject and explain that he is Autistic and communicates differently. As he has gotten older and much bigger physically, my concerns have shifted from not wanting him to appear rude to not wanting him to appear disrespectful or noncompliant in a situation where a first responder might be giving him a directive or needing information from him. Seeing so many cases nationwide where a person with ASD’s response was misinterpreted, resulting in tragedy, inspired me to push for Autism awareness to extend beyond educators and healthcare providers to include public workers who will inevitably interact with people with ASD.”
Lambeth said she hopes every first responder in Richmond County will take advantage of the training opportunity and added that additional sessions could be scheduled if interest exceeds available space.
“We would love for all first responders in Richmond County to receive this training. If we have more sign-ups than we can accommodate in the two scheduled training days, I feel confident Amy Perry and her team from ASNC will work with us to schedule another date,” Lambeth said.
As part of organizing the event, Lambeth shared she has worked closely with local agencies and officials to spread awareness about the training opportunity.
“Bob Smith, Director of Richmond County Emergency Services, was very helpful in making EMS and fire departments aware of the training opportunity. Richard Lassiter has also been very helpful and supportive. I have spoken to Sheriff Gulledge, Hamlet Police Chief Carsto, Rockingham Police Chief Gillenwater, Hamlet Fire Chief Goodwin and Rockingham Fire Chief Isler, all of whom have signed up members of their departments. Additionally, I corresponded with Melvin Ingram of Richmond County Schools and Exceptional Children’s Director Dana Mintmier to invite School Resource Officers,” said Lambeth.
To RSVP, attendees can contact Lambeth by email at visitrichmondcountync@gmail.com or by phone at 910-995-6476. Participants may also complete the Google Form or scan the QR code on the flyer. Lambeth said RSVPs are encouraged so organizers can ensure there are enough materials, certificates and classroom space available.
“Parenting a child with ASD is difficult and can be incredibly isolating. Unless you have personal experience with someone with an ASD, it is hard to understand and relate to people, especially families, whose lives are defined by it,” Lambeth said. “Offering education to bridge the gap between those who personally know someone with the broad spectrum disorder and those who have limited experience or education about it is imperative, as the ever-growing number of people diagnosed with an ASD will ultimately affect us all.”