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From YouTube: Philadelphia City Council Committee on the Disabled and Persons With Special Needs 4-21-2016
Description
The Committee on The Disabled and Persons with Special Needs of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Thursday, April 21, 2016 to hear testimony on the following item:
No. 160259
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Disabled & Persons With Special Needs to hold hearings regarding ongoing efforts to meet the demand for services among children and adults with Autism by groups like the Philadelphia Autism Project.
Chair: Derek S. Green, Esq. (At Large)
www.phlcouncil.com
B
B
Initially,
I
had
a
chance
to
participate
in
before
becoming
a
member
this
body
and
to
continue
to
support
the
work,
its
efforts,
and
so
we
can
really
provide
hope
and
resources
for
children
and
families
who
are
living
with
autism
and
living
with
this
learning
difference.
So
thank
you.
Oh
I'm.
Sorry,
on
the
vice
chair
of
the
committee
howling
game,
I'm
not
sure
if
you
had
any
opening
comments.
Okay,
all
right!
So
we'll
start
with
the
first
panel.
Thank
you.
Oh
I'm
also
joined
by
Councilman
Allen,
dumb.
C
You
mr.
chairman
members
of
the
committee,
Councilwoman
Jim
councilman
Allen
Dom
I'm,
going
to
stick
to
my
testimony
because
I
think
I
have
the
reputation
for
telling
off
script
and
that
can
be
very
dangerous
so
good
afternoon,
councilman,
green
and
members
of
the
disabled
and
special
needs
committee.
My
name
is
Denis
O'brien
and
this
panel
will
speak
about
the
inception
of
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
and
the
importance
of
the
collaboration
between
the
project
and
the
assert
collaborative
I'd
like
to
start
by
providing
some
background
about
the
prevalence
of
autism
and
how
that
impacts.
C
The
work
that
is
done
in
Philadelphia
and
in
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania.
As
the
chairman
has
just
noted,
the
Center
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention
found
that
one
in
68
children
meet
criteria
for
autism.
When
we
look
more
specifically
at
the
data
for
Pennsylvania
in
Philadelphia,
we
can
identify
how
many
people
in
the
state
and
the
city
respectively
are
receiving
services.
C
The
2014
Pennsylvania
census
update,
and
we
are
the
only
a
Commonwealth
that
is
doing
that.
Census
found
that
the
number
of
Philadelphians
with
autism
receiving
services
increased
116
percent.
It's
a
4617
individuals
from
2142
and
the
2009
report
in
Pennsylvania
the
number
increased
from
nearly
20,000
to
over
55,000
children
and
adults.
It's
also
important
to
note
that
autism
impacts
individuals
of
all
racial,
ethnic
and
socio-economic
backgrounds,
and
the
diversity
of
the
population
in
Philadelphia
warrants
the
identification
and
creation
of
the
services
and
programming
to
support
these
individuals.
C
Although
Philadelphia
is
recognized
as
one
of
the
top
ten
cities
to
live
in,
if
you
are
diagnosed
with
autism,
we
realized
there
continues
to
be
gaps
in
the
services
and
supports
as
well
as
unmet
needs
that
must
be
addressed.
As
a
result,
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
was
conceived
in
2013.
The
project
is
the
first
city
wide
initiative
of
its
kind
and
started
with
a
partnership
with
the
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Department
of
Behavioral
Health
and
intellectual
disability
services.
C
The
project
was
designed
to
create
an
inclusive
process
that
relies
upon
a
citywide
task
force
of
key
stakeholders
to
examine
the
quality
and
access
to
services
and
supports
for
individuals
with
autism
and
their
families
living
in
Philadelphia.
At
the
start
of
the
project,
a
select
leadership
team
helped
identify
over
135
stakeholders
representing
the
following
groups:
self-advocates
family
members,
policymakers,
researchers,
service
providers
and
others
who
met
in
three
phases
of
working
meetings.
C
The
input
and
work
of
the
stakeholders
resulted
in
a
final
strategic
report
outlining
more
than
100
initiatives
to
create
a
more
effective,
efficient
and
comprehensive
system
of
care.
The
report
represented
an
action
plan
for
Philadelphia
to
significantly
improve
the
lives
of
individuals
and
family
families
living
with
autism
and
is
a
critical
first
step
in
our
process
to
overcome
the
identified
environmental
barriers.
The
Phillippe
ilysm
project
initiatives
identified
by
the
stakeholders
and
outlined
in
the
report
are
currently
being
implemented
to
meet
the
needs
of
the
individuals
with
autism
and
their
families
in
Philadelphia.
C
The
Philadelphia
wats
ISM
project
is
working
in
conjunction
with
the
assert
collaborative
eastern
region,
many
of
whom
are
in
the
audience
today
to
support
the
implementation
of
these
initiatives.
With
the
input
from
the
project,
stakeholders
and
leadership.
The
assert
collaborative
is
funded
by
the
bureau
of
autism
services,
the
pennsylvania
department
of
human
services,
the
bureau
of
autism
services
works
to
support
individuals
with
autism
and
their
families
throughout
pennsylvania.
In
its
mission,
a
serb
provides
expertise
in
clinical
data
and
policy
projects.
C
This
partnership
between
assert
the
assert
collaborative
eastern
region
and
the
Philippine
autism
project
provides
a
unique
connection
between
state
and
city
efforts
to
identify
the
most
effective,
efficient
and
comprehensive
system
of
care
for
individuals
with
autism
at
both
levels.
The
assert
eastern
region
uses
data
to
identify
the
needs
of
individuals
with
autism
in
Pennsylvania,
which
supports
the
bureau
of
autism
services
and
assert
in
project
development.
This
data
is
beneficial
on
both
the
state
and
city
level
by
informing
service
and
training
development
to
address
the
changing
needs
of
the
expanding
and
aging
population.
C
More
specifically,
the
assert
collaborative
has
been
able
to
support
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
by
providing
Philadelphia
specific
data
on
autism
and
in
the
organization
and
implementation
of
stakeholder
generated
initiatives
through
community
input
and
citywide
and
statewide
data.
This
partnership
helps
identify
and
address
the
needs
of
individuals
with
autism
and
their
families,
and
is
key
to
ensuring
that
Philadelphia
remains
one
of
the
top
ten
cities
to
live
in.
If
you
are
diagnosed
with
autism.
D
Councilman,
green
and
members
of
the
committee,
my
name,
is
Nina.
Wall
I
serve
as
the
director
of
the
Bureau
of
autism
services
at
the
department
of
human
services
in
the
office
of
developmental
programs,
and
it
is
my
great
pleasure
to
be
here
today
to
report
to
the
work
that
has
been
underway
with
the
Philadelphia
autism
project.
For
those
of
you
don't
know
Pennsylvania,
although
we
still
feel
very
much
that
we
are
at
the
beginning
of
our
our
work
to
build
models
to
support
and
assist
people
with
autism.
D
It
was
at
the
state
level
and
we
brought
together
about
300
people,
and
this
was
way
back
in
2003,
and
the
idea
was
to
bring
lots
of
individuals
together
to
talk
about
what
in
the
system
was
working
for
people
with
autism
and
also
what
wasn't
working
but
the
hardest
part
of
that
effort,
because
sometimes
it's
very
easy
to
identify,
what's
broken,
much
more
difficult
to
then
develop
recommendations
to
move
the
system
forward.
In
this
group,
the
autism
task
force
was
charged
with
doing
that.
D
They
developed
a
report
which
was
issued
in
2004,
and
that
report,
like
the
report
generated
by
the
folks
who
participated
in
the
Philadelphia
autism
project,
became
really
a
blueprint
for
all
of
the
work.
That's
been
underway
in
Pennsylvania.
So
this
effort,
that
is
still
very
young
in
the
city,
reminds
me
a
great
deal
of
what
happened
at
the
state
level
and
I.
Think
what
allowed
the
work
at
the
state
level
to
move
forward
had
a
great
deal
to
do
with
vision
and
leadership.
D
Advocacy
was
a
huge
part
of
that
as
well,
and
it
was
actually
councilman
former
councilman
O'brien,
then
Speaker
of
the
House
who
really
championed
this
issue.
At
the
state
level,
we
have
gone
forward
at
the
state
level
to
develop
models
that
still
don't
exist
in
other
states.
We
currently
support
and
over
700
adults
with
autism
in
two
models
that
are
the
first
of
their
kind.
D
So
the
collaboration
of
assert
it
has
been
a
central
cog
in
our
wheel,
so
I
just
want
to
say.
I
was
heartened
to
watch
the
work
unfold
here
in
the
city,
the
Philadelphia
autism
project,
because
I'm
a
big
believer
that
great
things
can
happen.
When
you
bring
very
energized
talented,
visionary
people
together,
good
things
can
can
come
of
that
kind
of
energy
and
I
have
watched
this
collaboration
unfold
and
it's
still
very
young
effort,
but
I
think
it's
very
bold
and
it
is
the
first
of
its
kind
in
the
nation
as
well.
D
This
is
I,
think
Philadelphia
reaching
reaching
out
and
saying
it
wants
to
be.
The
first
autism,
friendly
city
in
the
country
is
extraordinary
and
I
love
the
idea
of
the
state
being
able
to
work
again.
You
know
with
with
folks
at
the
local
level
to
continue
to
build
capacity
and
extend
our
reach.
So
this
is
a
you
know,
really
extraordinary
effort,
that's
underway
here
and
I
do
want
to
just
emphasize
that
this
is
Autism
Awareness,
Month
I
think
we
are
the
first
state
now
to
I.
D
Think
we've
officially
changed
that
to
autism
acceptance
month
and
I.
Think
that
is
important
and
compelling
in
many
ways
my
own
son
was
diagnosed
with
autism
in
1994
and
I.
Remember
at
the
time
there
was
very
little
information
about
autism
I
think
there
was
one
book
in
our
local
bookstore
and
it
was
a
time
where
you
need
information
as
a
parent.
D
You
need
information,
you
need
people,
you
need
resources,
you
need
tools
to
understand
and
navigate
the
system
and,
and
those
things
were
not
available
at
the
time
now
fast-forward
20
years
and
I
have
to
say
we're
still
very
much
at
the
beginning
of
the
work.
But
I
look
at
these
kind
of
partnerships
and
the
kind
of
focus
that
has
emerged,
certainly
at
the
state
level
in
here
in
Philadelphia,
and
it
it
really
does
give
me
pause
and
I'm
excited
and
encouraged
to
see
what
that
will
yield.
D
So
I
think
with
that
I.
I
think
I'm
going
to
pass
the
mic
over
to
pam,
because
you're
going
to
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
the
work
in
detail,
but
I
went
one
final
thought:
I
just
want
to
say
that
the
innovation
that
I
see
emanating
out
of
this
effort
is
really
quite
extraordinary
in
order
to
address
the
challenge.
We're
seeing
in
the
autism
re
right
now
is
going
to
require
really
all
hands
on
deck.
D
It
will
require
resources,
it
will
require
collaborative
partnerships,
but
it's
also
going
to
require
innovative
thinking
about
how
we
address
complex
problems
and
I,
see
that
emerging
here
and
and
so
I've
great
hope
and
excitement
about
what's
to
come.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
inviting
me
here
today
and
Pam.
E
Thank
You
Nina
Thank,
You
Danny
good
afternoon,
councilman,
green
and
members
of
the
committee
on
disabled
and
special
needs.
My
name
is
Pamela
piscitelli
I
am
the
project
manager
for
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
in
the
clinical
project,
manager
of
the
autism
services,
education,
resources
and
training
collaborative
or
a
cert
eastern
region.
Assert
is
funded
by
the
Pennsylvania
Department
of
Human
Services
Bureau
of
autism
services.
The
Philadelphia
autism
project
in
the
assert
collaborative
eastern
region
are
housed
at
the
AJ
Drexel
autism
Institute
at
Drexel
University,
as
the
project
manager
for
the
Philadelphia
autism
project.
E
I've
worked
closely
with
the
Leadership
Committee
stakeholders
and
staff
to
implement
the
initiatives
identified
through
multiple
stakeholder
meetings
and
outlined
in
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
report.
These
initiatives
are
designed
to
address
the
diverse
needs
of
individuals
with
autism,
their
families
and
providers.
During
the
past
year
and
a
half,
we
have
focused
our
efforts
on
the
implementation
of
key
initiatives
designed
to
reach
underserved
and
underrepresented
populations.
Living
with
autism
in
Philadelphia,
stakeholders
have
identified
better
connectivity
to
resources
and
outreach
to
underserved
communities
as
top
priorities.
E
With
my
time
here
today,
I'm
going
to
discuss
four
of
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
initiatives,
including
an
online
resource
hub,
an
annual
conference
trainings
and
feed
awards.
These
initiatives
have
been
completed
or
on
going
to
meet
those
priorities.
The
first
initiative
I
will
discuss
is
the
creation
of
an
online
resource
hub,
philly
autism
project
org.
The
website
was
designed
to
be
connected
to
the
existing
assert
collaborative
website,
pa
autism,
org,
so
Philadelphians
could
access
city
specific
resources
as
well
as
statewide
resources.
E
The
website
is
continuously
evolving
to
meet
the
needs
of
the
community
through
user
feedback
and
feedback
from
the
filling
autism
project,
leadership
and
stakeholders.
Currently,
information
for
over
thirty
in-person
support
groups
in
Philadelphia
is
available
through
a
user
friendly
neighborhood
map
interface.
This
map
interface
also
highlights
our
work
with
the
Free
Library
of
Philadelphia
by
identifying
Library
locations
throughout
the
city
and
providing
information
on
autism,
friendly
events
and
services
offered
at
each
location.
Philly
autism
project
org
also
includes
Philadelphia,
specific
resources,
project
updates
and
an
Events
Calendar
highlighting
local
events.
E
The
second
of
these
initiatives
is
an
annual
conference.
The
first
Philly
autism
project
conference
was
held
in
October
2015
at
the
free
library,
philadelphia,
parkway
central
branch.
We
received
an
overwhelmingly
positive
response
to
the
conference
with
over
150
conference
attendees
and
speakers,
including
self-advocates
family
members
and
professionals,
from
throughout
the
Philadelphia
region
and
beyond.
Attendees,
had
the
opportunity
to
connect
with
leaders
in
the
education,
clinical
policy
and
research
fields,
while
also
learning
about
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
community
engagement
efforts.
E
The
conference
was
an
opportunity
to
provide
concrete
tools,
innovative
strategies
and
vital
resources
for
Philadelphians
impacted
by
autism
across
the
spectrum
and
life
span.
Future
conferences
will
expand
upon
these
initial
connections
and
continue
to
build
support
for
the
organization
of
a
grassroots
advocacy
movement
by
bringing
together
a
community
of
individuals
with
autism
families,
providers
and
researchers.
In
the
spring
of
2015,
we
distributed
seed
award
funding
to
organizations
and
groups
to
reach
underserved
and
underrepresented
populations
living
with
auto
in
Philadelphia
12
organizations
and
groups.
E
Trainings
and
outreach
have
been
another
key
component
of
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
and
will
continue
to
be
a
focus
of
our
implementation
efforts
in
the
future.
Keter
trainings
on
resource
navigation,
AST,
101
and
justice
system
interactions
are
just
a
few
examples
of
the
topic
areas
that
have
been
provided
for
family
members
providers
and
justice
system
professionals.
These
trainings
are
another
mechanism
designed
to
increase
awareness
and
education
about
autism
for
the
community
in
order
to
further
the
efforts
of
the
philadelphia
autism
project
for
work
groups
have
been
established.
E
The
goals
of
these
work
groups
is
to
accomplish
the
initiative
suggested
by
stakeholders
in
the
philadelphia
autism
project
implementation
survey
during
the
2013-2014
stakeholder
meetings.
The
four
areas
that
these
work
groups
will
focus
on
in
the
future
include
funding
education,
clinical
concerns
across
the
lifespan
and
community
inclusion.
Each
worker
has
selected
the
top
stakeholder
initiatives
to
support
maximum
impact
and
effectiveness
of
the
project.
As
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
continues
to
develop
and
grow,
it
will
be
informed
by
emerging
data
outreach
and
stakeholder
and
community
engagement
with
continued
support
and
organization
from
City
Council.
E
B
To
thank
all
of
you
for
your
testimony,
I'm
going
to
open
it
up
with
a
few
questions.
I
have
it
and
open
it
to
other
questions,
and
members
of
the
committee
may
have
when
I
think
about
the
things
that
were
said
earlier
this.
While
you
talk
to
autism
acceptance
and
Pennsylvania
move
in
that
regard-
and
you
know
this
is
autism
awareness
and
I
guess
part
of
my
concern
is
how
do
we
get
the
info
out
of
Pennsylvania
and
Philip
is
in
a
really
good
place
compared
to
the
rest
of
the
nation?
B
No
there's
often
a
sustained
marketing
initiative
to
get
people
more
familiar
with
the
concerning
issue
when
I
think
about
my
work
with
counseling
tasca
working
with
the
maternity
care
coalition
and
a
lot
of
work
at
regarding
SIDS
and
sudden
infant
death
syndrome
and
other
issues
like
HIV
and
AIDS,
and
people
are
not
much
more
familiar
and
I
think
we're
getting
to
that
in
reference
to
autism
on
a
more
macro
level.
But
when
it
comes
to
resources
that
still
seems
to
be
information,
that's
not
there.
E
So
I
can
start
and
if
you
guys
want
to
add
so,
I
think
some
of
the
things
that
we've
been
doing
on
as
a
cert
and
also
as
the
philadelphia
autism
project
is
we've
created
infographics
that
are
very
user-friendly.
You
know
increase
awareness
just
trying
to
get
information
out
there,
for
example
about
the
adult
programs
that
are
available
in
Pennsylvania.
E
We
created
specific
ones
about
Philly
autism
project
initiatives
and
they
are
released
to
increase
information
and
awareness
to
the
public
they're,
usually
about
one
page,
they're
easy
to
read
and
understand
and
they're,
very
visually
appealing
and
I
think
that's
a
key
component
of
getting
information
out
there.
Increasing
awareness
and
I
think
you
know
one
of
the
important
components
of
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
is
reaching
underserved
and
underrepresented
populations.
Who
may
not
be
able
to
get
information
about
autism
and
know
where
to
go
for
help.
E
So
I
think
you
know
we
did
video
screening
events
at
different
library
locations
in
different
neighborhoods
throughout
the
city,
trying
to
reach
people
and
go
to
where
they
are,
as
opposed
to
making
them
come
to
us.
So
I
think
those
are
just
a
few
examples
of
things
that
we've
been
doing
and
will
continue
to
do
to
try
and
increase
awareness,
yeah.
B
So
this
organization
will
do
something
regarding
autism,
which
is
great
for
that
day
or
that
weekend,
but
then
there's
not
additional
information
to
direct
people
how
to
get
services
or
this
other
organizations
having
an
event
which
is
great
for
an
opportunity
for
either
kids
to
play
or
for
people
to
be
engaged
or
going
to
issue.
But
after
that
events
over
how
do
I
continue
to
get
information.
I.
Think
that's
where
the
concern
disconnect.
Maybe.
D
So
a
focus
of
the
bureau
of
autism
services
and
quite
candidly,
the
development
of
assert
was
focused
with
a
vision
of
trying
to
ensure
that
resources
and
informational
resources
and
tools
could
get
to
people
where
they
are
so
one
of
the
things
that
we
have
really
focused
on
it
in
some
of
the
assert
work
is
not
in
any
way
trying
to
supplant
grassroots
efforts.
I
came
out
of
I
felt
when
I
found
my
first
support
group.
D
That's
where
I
made
my
friendships,
that's
where
I
got
the
secret
decoder
ring
that
taught
me
how
to
navigate
this
system.
It
was
talking
to
other
moms
and
dads,
so
the
idea
wasn't
that
the
state
was
going
to
create
something
that
was
going
to
in
any
way
supplant
what
already
existed
at
the
grassroots
level.
I
think
what
we
have
to
do
is
look
at
the
resources
in
the
communities
meet
people
where
they
are
make
sure
they
can
access
information
and
that,
and
that
is
really
an
integral
dynamic
of
the
just.
D
A
D
Councilman
green,
you
reference
that
which
is
wonderful,
so
please
know
when
I
say
that
I
think
back
to
when
I
started
when
there
was
no
awareness.
This
is
progress
but,
as
you
said,
you
spend
most
of
your
life
as
an
adult
and
so
I
think
one
of
the
things
when
we
talk
about
awareness
and
appreciation
and
acceptance
is
that
we
have
to
be
very
attentive
to
making
sure
that
we
are
painting
the
picture
right.
That
is
the
accurate
picture
of
the
reality
of
the
community,
including
individuals
who,
whose
voices
are
very
often
not
hurt
mm-hmm.
D
C
Councilman,
having
hearings
like
this
are
very
important
in
driving
this
dialogue
to
a
place
where
it
can
be
effective.
The
critical
mass
I
think
is
in
the
data
and
that's
why
the
individuals
at
assert
and
there's
three
regions-
the
east,
western
and
central
regions,
and
it
respects
those
demographics
which
the
National
Institute
of
Health
is
always
looking
to
have
incorporated
in
any
study.
The
magic
of
Pennsylvania
is
when
you
look
at
studies
over
the
country
in
autism,
they
may
have
10
to
15
people.
C
Our
studies
have
six
seven
eight
hundred
people,
but
the
embodied
in
my
testimony
and
in
testimony
that
others
will
present
it's
not
the
one
in
68,
that's
critically
important.
It's
the
fact.
By
the
year
twenty
thirty
we're
going
to
have
75,000
new
advanced
and
we're
the
only
state
that
has
adult
programs
da
cap
and
these
old
waiver
79,000.
We
have
600
people
in
those
programs.
Now
I
always
believed
that
when
you
identify
the
problem,
you
have
a
responsibility
to
act.
C
This
is
like
DNA,
these
numbers
don't
break
down,
they
don't
go
away
and
it
tells
a
story
of
a
reality.
We
also
have
to
build
our
advocacy
and
I
think
when
it's
dull
richmond.
I
say
this
whole
time
when
she
was
Secretary
welfare
in
Harrisburg.
She
did
such
an
extraordinary
job
of
making
sure
the
most
vulnerable
or
attended
to,
and
that's
disappearing
across
the
country
that
sense
of
responsibility
that
we
have
for
these
individuals.
C
They
drill
down
inside
that
data
and
they
focus
on
outcomes
and
by
analyzing
that
data
in
the
unique
way
that
they
do.
It
provides
great
opportunity
for
new
policy
directives.
This
is
the
way
every
part
of
government
should
function,
but
we
are
looking
at
a
tsunami
and
the
numbers
were
only
state
that
has
created
a
census.
I
remember
when
we
were
walking
around
in
Harrisburg.
C
We
first
started
talking
about
autism
and
after
our
3rd
legislative
visit,
they
said
well
how
many
people
are
in
my
legislative
district
hit
myself
right
in
the
head
and
I
think
Nina
did
and
whoever
else
was
listed.
We
got
to
find
that
out,
and
that
became
a
very
simple
process
where
we
started
a
census.
No
one
has
that
in
any
disease
malady.
This
is
the
biggest
demographic
in
the
United
States
of
America
and
beyond
our
nation's
that
are
doing
things
and
we're
the
greatest
nation
we
should.
C
We
should
be
about
doing
that
by
protecting
our
most
vulnerable
but
grass
roots
through
hearings
like
this
making
people
aware
that
they
have
to
come
forward
and
I'm,
not
saying
put
them
on
a
bus
and
driving
the
harrisburg
every
week.
But
listen.
We
have
spectrum
friends
which
is
a
group
of
adults
in
Harrisburg
and
if
you
I
asked
them
one
time,
they
asked
me
to
come
up
and
speak
to
them
and
I
said
I.
Don't
want
to
do
this
I.
I
want
to
make
Philadelphia
the
first
autism,
friendly
city.
How
do
I
do
that?
C
My
head
started
to
explode.
You
just
ask
these
individuals
for
the
pathway
and
with
the
animal
the
analysis
of
the
data
and
the
programmatic
designs
that
we're
creating
here
in
Pennsylvania
and
uniquely
here
in
Philadelphia,
with
the
efforts
of
dr.,
arthur
evans
and
joan
army
at
cbh
and
arthur
when
you
talk
about
underserved
communities
has
a
unique
vision
that
will
drive
this
forward
in
a
way
that
it's
never
been
recognized
before
I.
B
Mean
it's
a
follow
up
when
you
talk
about
you
know
under
the
sentence
and
I
think
from
the
2014
update,
we're
over
4,600
and
then
by
twenty
twenty
thousand
over
20,000,
and
when
you
had
that
huge
increase.
It
creates
that
time
of
the
epidemic
type
of
perspective,
and
you
mentioned
acts
62
and
I-
think
I'm
often
focused
on.
How
can
we
leverage
and
considering
that
you
know,
insurers
who
should
be
paying
have
not
been
and
I
place
at
additional
burden
on
the
Commonwealth
and
on
taxpayers
and
I?
B
Think
we
need
to
look
at
this,
not
just
in
a
public
health
perspective,
but
also
an
economic
perspective
when
we,
as
citizens
are
all
paying
more
when
insurance
companies
should
be
paying
more.
And
how
can
we
leverage
that
to
help
get
some
additional
resources
to
get
information
out
to
fun,
more
I,
sustained
in
the
marketing
or
advertising
campaign
or
initiative
to
let
everyone
know
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
in
the
state
about
issues
of
autism?
B
And
how
can
you
get
resources
because
I
think
that's
what
we
need
to
do
to
try
to
get
more
helped
to
not
only
let
people
know
about
the
full
of
autism
project
but
issued
about
autism,
so
if
you're
at
sick
and
ninth
and
elmwood
you're
50
sec
and
kingsessing
you're
at
mayfair
diner,
if
you're
somewhere
at
the
client
center
anywhere
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
you're
constantly
getting
information
that
way.
When
you
get
that
first,
it
possible
indication
that
your
child
may
be
on
the
spectrum.
B
You
know
where
to
go
and
I
think
that's
part
of
the
challenge.
Even
with
all
the
information
we
have,
people
are
still
in
this
kind
of
fog
is
my
child
on
the
spectrum?
Not
short.
It's
not
just
then,
but
also
primary
care.
Physicians,
who
some,
who
are
the
more
recent
graduates
or
going
to
residency,
have
more
information,
but
those
have
been
practicing.
Maybe
15,
20
25
years
still
or
somewhat
challenged
by
how
do
I
provide
information
to
my
patients
regarding
whether
their
child
may
be
on
the
spectrum
or
not.
C
F
D
Work
started
with
the
statewide
autism
census,
which
the
first
was
conducted
and
the
data
released
in
2009.
It
was
updated
in
2014
and
that
very,
very
rich,
robust
data
set
as
I
think
allowing
us
to
understand
a
lot
about
individuals
with
autism
served
in
the
system,
and
a
lot
of
that
has
been
foundational
to
some
of
the
work
in
Philadelphia
and
trying
to
understand.
The
populations.
I
think
we're
still
very
we're
getting
with
the
kind
of
at
the
beginning
of
that
work
and
when
working
with
the
data.
F
E
F
E
We
do
have
county
specific
data
from
the
Census
up
d,
which
is
on
the
website
PA
autism
org,
so
you
can
get
information
about
what's
going
on
in
Philadelphia,
specifically
on
the
website.
Also,
our
data
project
manager
will
be
speaking
giving
his
testimony
tomorrow,
so
he
can
speak
more
specifically
to
some
of
those
questions
and
those
numbers
as
well.
He'll
speak
about
the
justice
system
stuff,
but
as
well
as
some
of
the
data.
D
Beyond
the
census
initiative,
we
also
launched
a
needs
assessment,
and
that
was
after
the
census
was
conducted
because
we
really
did
want
to
get
I
think
a
more
granular,
quantifiable
understanding
of
some
of
the
things
we
were
seeing
anecdotally.
So,
for
example,
in
our
day-to-day
work
at
the
bureau,
we
were
getting
calls
and
hearing
about
young
people
who
were
winding
up
in
the
justice
system.
We
were,
we
were
getting
the
stories
we
were
hearing.
D
You
know
a
lot
of
things
that
were,
you
know,
very
challenging,
but
we
felt
there
was
a
need
to
understand
this
from
a
data
perspective.
So
one
of
the
assert
initiatives
that
was
very
very
significant
was
to
launch
the
needs.
Assessment
and
I
would
encourage
everyone
to
look
at
PA,
autism
org,
because
you
can
get
all
of
that.
D
We
have
a
hunch
there
a
lot,
but
at
budget
time
you
all
know,
that's
not
the
answer.
That's
going
to
be
too
terribly
helpful.
We
needed
to
be
able
to
understand
and
quantify
what
we
were
seeing
so
I
would
encourage
you
all
to
look
at
at
the
census
and
needs
assessment,
and
if
you
have
specific
questions,
the
beauty
is
of
folks
that
assert
can
work
with
you
on
that.
So
I
would
encourage
you
to
to
engage
with
our
colleagues
and
then.
F
E
I
can
speak
a
little
bit
broadly
about
the
trainings.
More
specifically,
our
justice
system
initiatives,
including
the
trainings,
will
be
discussed
tomorrow,
so
there'll
be
more
in-depth
information
there
and
I
believe
at
the
end
of
today.
They'll
also
be
some
additional
information
about
the
CIT
training
that
we
do
so
I
don't
want
to
give
too
much
away,
but
we
do
as
both
assert
and
the
Philly
autism
project.
We
do
cater
trainings
on
a
variety
of
topics
based
on
what
the
needs
of
the
audience
are
so
for
justice
system
professionals.
E
We
work
with
a
consultant
who
helps
to
create
content,
and
then
we
go
out
and
meet
the
needs
of
if
it's
a
police
officer
or
parole
officers
or
probation
officers,
any
sort
of
justice
system
professional,
and
we
give
them
both
background
information
on
autism
and
then
also
some
strategies
and
techniques
that
they
can
use
in
their
work
line
of
work
to
help
them
when
they're,
interacting
with
individuals
with
autism.
So
there'll
be
more
information
about
that
great
throughout
the
earring.
G
F
D
A
dicey
one,
what
I
mean
I,
don't
know
if
you
guys
want
to
tackle
that,
but
I
have
thoughts
about
it.
I
think
there
is
some
extraordinary
research
underway
that
is
going
to
help
us
understand
the
ideology.
What
you
know,
what
causes
autism
I
think
there's
and
some
of
that
that
research
is
very
exciting
on
some
of
it
is
happening
here
in
Pennsylvania.
D
Think
it's
also
important
to
emphasize
that
this
is
a
spectrum
disorder.
So
there
are
individuals
who
are
profoundly
challenged
by
their
autism
and
who
have
experienced
very
complex
challenges
in
navigating
the
world
and
they
need
a
lot
of
support
and
may
need
a
lot
of
support
throughout
their
lives.
So
it
is
it's
hard,
you
know,
I,
don't
think
I
comfortable,
saying,
there's
a
cure
for
autism,
but
I
have
watched
individuals
that
we
have
supported
in
our
programs,
some
some
who
had
never
had
interventions
and
support.
They
came
to
us
when
they
were
adults.
D
They
were
mature
adults
and
we
started
providing
service
services
and
we
watched
the
growth
and
we
watched
individuals
who
may
be
hadn't
ever
had
a
communication
system
right,
something
so
basic
to
being
able
to
make
your
wants
and
needs
known,
be
provided
with
the
right
kinds
of
tools
and
supports,
and
we
start
to
see
growth
and
progress.
So
I
think
we've
learned
a
lot
about
what
allows
individuals
to
grow
and
progress
and
lead
a
better
quality
of
life,
but
I
think
most
would
agree
that
autism
is
a
lifelong
condition.
C
Think
the
other
bigger
question
is,
and
there
are
a
lot
of
people
that
are
advocating
to
find
a
cure
and
really
our
emphasis.
Today,
hat
really
has
to
be
on
the
supports
for
those
individuals
to
be
successful
and
defining
a
cure
sometimes
is
not
inclusive
of
who
the
individuals
are
we're
living
with
autism.
A
lot
of
those
individuals
really
believe
that
they
figured
it
out
and
that
their
gifts
are
substantial
and
are
welcome
in
our
community
and
there's
nothing
wrong
with
them
or
something
wrong
with
us.
C
B
E
I
think
you
know
that
would
start
with
some
additional
meanings
of
stakeholders
and
thinking
about
what
the
needs
of
the
Philadelphia
community
are
so
building
upon.
What
was
in
the
autism,
Philadelphia
autism
project
final
report
and
building
on
the
initiatives
that
we
have
been
accomplishing
thus
far
and
then
also
the
initiatives
that
we
have
yet
to
accomplish
that
the
work
groups
are
beginning
to
work
on
and
think
about
and
thinking
about
what
the
needs
are
of
the
community,
because
that's
something
that's
ever-changing,
so
I
think
it's
hard
for
me
to
pinpoint
one.
E
You
know
things
specifically,
but,
as
I
mentioned,
you
know
having
another
conference
making
that
an
annual
thing
continuing
to
do
the
trainings,
the
seed
award
funding
to
again
reach
grassroots
organizations.
Thinking
about
how
we
can
build
upon
the
seat
award
funding
from
last
year,
so
I
think
that's
just
one
step
and
some
ideas
that
we
have.
But
that's
again
you
know
we
need
feedback
from
the
stakeholders
in
the
community
on
on
how
we
can
move
forward
best.
G
D
Continue,
and
certainly
in
my
role
at
the
state
continue
to
see
the
importance
of
the
training
efforts
that
will
build
capacity
of
professionals
who
are
interacting
with
individuals
with
autism
and
I.
Don't
know
that
that's
going
to
be
on
the
docket
for
this
year,
but
training
is
needed
in
every
system.
So,
even
if
we
develop
modalities
and
and
strategies
to
intervene,
we
need
to
have
professionals
who
know
how
to
provide
those
supports
so
I
I
know.
Certainly
at
the
state
level,
we
have
directed
a
significant
portion
of
our
resources
to
capacity
building
in
the
system.
D
So
I
don't
know
if
that's
on
the
docket
for
this
year,
I
would
just
have
to
echo
the
importance
of
continuing
to
reach
into
the
communities
to
access
the
experiences
and
the
challenges
of
individuals
we
haven't
captured
yet,
and
I
think
that
often
gets
lost.
I
certainly
know
when
I
travel
around
the
state.
We
struggle
with
meeting
the
needs
of
individuals
in
rural
areas.
Pennsylvania
is
largely
a
rural
state.
D
The
experience
of
people
living
excuse
me
in
rural
areas
is
very,
very
different,
but
I
think
that
is
mirrored
here
in
the
city
where
there
are
other
challenges
that
communities
face
and
to
try
to
understand-
and
you
know
so-
that
supports-
can
be
targeted
to
meet
those
unique
needs
and
I
think
you
guys
have
really
done
a
nice
job.
Launching
with
that
kind
of
a
focus
out
of
the
gate.
C
There
were
can
I'll
just
reflect
as
briefly
as
I
can
on
the
meeting
with
the
spectrum,
friends
and
the
first
individual.
That
spoke
said
he
doesn't
want
to
be
poor
and
and
that's
very
important,
and
we
had
hearings
in
City
Council
on
that
very
subject,
concurrent
with
that
discussion,
there's
individuals
that
are
pursuing
their
doctorate
degrees
and
when
they
declare
their
dissertation.
The
educational
supports
disappear
at
the
most
important
time
as
individuals
who
have
multiple
masters
degrees
and
they
have
hundreds
of
interviews.
They
never
get
a
job
and
there's
others
that
have
trouble
navigating
transportation.
C
Another
story
where
an
individual
came
here
and
took
a
cab
and
the
cab
driver
drove
so
fast
and
cut
corners
and
they
couldn't
take
a
cab.
So
he
decided
he
would
drive
his
car
here
in
the
parking
authority
attacked
them
because
it
was
pulled
over
on
the
side
of
the
road
and
while
he
was
trying
to
sort
it
out,
he
said
if
you
don't
just.
Let
me
gather
my
information,
then
this
is
going
I'm
going
to
have
a
meltdown
and
then
I'll
be
in
a
more
difficult
situation.
C
I'll
tell
you
one
story:
when
we
have
one
of
our
major
snowstorms,
one
of
our
guys
was
employee.
He
got
to
work
history.
Colleagues
didn't
he
did
the
work
of
all
four,
so
guess
what
those
guys
never
missed
another
day
after
that,
because
they
thought
that
he
would
replace
them.
Our
guys
are
wonderful.
Just
given
the
opportunity
it
could
be
extraordinary.
C
C
B
That
really
would
help
people
get
a
perspective
in
a
very
quick
way,
how
many
people,
how
many
of
their
current
constituents
are,
have
a
family
member
in
living
on
the
spectrum
and
then
in
just
a
few
years,
what
that
inquiry
is
going
to
look
like
and
I
think
that
also
helps
ascent
into
that
visual.
We're
really
send
a
message
to
the
people
why
this
is
such
a
big
issue
in
the
city.
Yes,.
B
A
Good
afternoon
councilman
green
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Tom
Quinn
and
I'm,
the
director
of
education
at
the
walnut
street
theatre.
We
have
a
30
year,
tradition
of
providing
education
programs
through
our
theater
school
in
our
summer
camp
an
hour
20.
How
we
chose
to
over
400
shows
in
area
schools
our
work
using
theatre
to
teach
curriculum
in
phila
kekulé
Xin,
our
kids
series
performed
one
hour
musicals
for
family
audiences.
Put
that
all
together
we
reach
180,000
people.
A
Each
year
with
our
education,
programming's
programs,
we
were
honored
to
receive
a
see
award
funding
from
the
Philip
God's
of
profit,
isn't
project
this
past
fall
to
offer
class
for
children
on
the
autism
spectrum.
For
the
first
time
we
able
to
offer
the
class
to
13
students
between
the
ages
of
8
and
15.
A
Six
of
those
students
received
a
full
scholarship
and
seven
paid
for
the
class
at
a
reduced
rate
of
fifty
dollars.
We
typically
charge
150
dollars
for
a
class
like
this.
It
was
a
seven
week,
long
class
hour,
an
half
meeting
each
time
do
the
support
we
able
to
bring
in
an
outside
consultant.
Aurora
DC
from
Temple
University
roger,
has
become
one
of
the
leading
experts
in
a
country
in
working
with
theaters
to
make
performances
in
classes
more
accessible
for
people
in
the
spectrum.
Roger
was
able
to
offer
training
to
our
for
teaching
art
artists.
A
We
conclude
the
class
for
the
presentation
when
our
traveling
shows
that
we
take
two
schools.
Michael
Berenstain
of
the
berenstain
bears
is
local
to
the
area
and
he
gave
us
permission
to
do
an
adaptation
of
his
newest
book,
Berenstain
Bears
hospital
friends,
and
we
performed
it
just
for
the
families
of
the
kids
who
were
in
the
class.
A
We
made
this
our
first
sensory-friendly
show
in
the
theater
theater
three
ounces
1809.
That
was
the
first
time
that
we
did
program
specifically
with
that
in
mind,
and
all
we
had
to
do
to
make
it.
A
sensory
friendly
performance
was
to
change
the
show,
so
there
weren't
any
loud
noises
or
anything
that
might
alarm
the
kids
were
able
to
give
them
a
chance
to
meet
the
actress
afterward
and
they
all
to
also
try
on
the
bear
costumes
which
they
enjoyed
greatly.
A
As
a
result
of
this
program,
we
were
also
able
to
reach
out
to
the
Kennedy
Center
in
Washington
DC
sharing
within
this
work
we
were
doing.
The
result
of
that
was
that
they
offered
to
support
us
in
doing
our
first-ever
sensory-friendly
performance
in
our
1000
CE
historic
theater.
For
the
first
time,
we'll
have
a
performance
for
the
kids
in
the
spectrum
and
families
on
june
eighth,
and
we
were
able
to
give
out
over
500
free
tickets
for
this
performance.
A
I
don't
get
to
do
that
very
much
that
was
very
enjoyable,
be
able
to
speak
to
families
about
that.
There's,
no
doubt
that
our
involvement
with
a
fluffy
autism
project
led
to
this
opportunity,
I'm
also
happy
to
report.
The
project
truly
has
been
seed
money
for
us.
We
offered
the
class
again
this
time
without
support
and
the
cost
of
135
dollars
per
student.
This
spring.
We
currently
have
six
students
enrolled
in
the
class.
A
It's
my
intention
to
make
this
a
regular
offering
of
our
theatre
school
if
it
serves
over
1,500
students
every
year
offering
drama
instruction.
The
most
compelling
aspect
of
the
program
for
me
has
been
the
effect
I've
seen
on
the
families
apparent
from
our
class
in
the
fall
sent
me.
The
following.
The
pilot
program
was
hugely
beneficial
to
my
son.
The
teachers
helped
to
improve
his
ability
to
express
himself.
His
school
staff
told
us
that
they
saw
dramatic
improvement
in
his
ability
to
share
his
feelings.
A
I
also
believe
it's
seeing
other
children
with
autism,
enjoying
acting
classes
with
beneficial
I'm,
deeply
grateful
that
he
had
the
opportunity
to
attend
the
pilot,
clients
and
hope
to
see
the
program
gross
or
other
children
can
benefit.
From
my
own
perspective,
seeing
families
have
the
ability
to
enjoy
theatre
has
been
very
meaningful.
I've
heard
many
parents
say
that,
due
to
their
child
with
autism,
they
poke
they
choose
to
not
go
to
public
events
as
a
family.
This
means
that
siblings,
not
on
the
spectrum
miss
out
as
well.
A
This
program
gave
us
the
chance
to
work
at
creating
an
accepting
and
open
environment.
We're
the
oldest
theater
in
America
are
very
proud
of
that,
and
people
have
been
coming
through
our
doors
since
1809.
This
program
has
allowed
us
to
truly
be
accessible
to
kids
in
the
spectrum.
As
a
result
is
my
intention
to
make
it
a
permanent
part
or
educational
mission,
I'll
be
forever
grateful
to
the
Philadelphia
autism
project,
it's
a
genuine
good,
an
important
resource
for
the
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
autism,
community,
an
example
that
other
cities
should
emulate.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
H
Councilman,
green
and
members
of
the
committee
upon
the
disabled
and
special
needs.
I
am
Joe
Benford
deputy
director
of
customer
engagement
at
the
Free
Library
of
Philadelphia
chiffon
riordan.
President
director
could
not
be
here
this
afternoon
and
has
asked
that
I
appear
to
share
with
the
committee
the
work
that
we
do
to
provide
services
to
families
and
their
children
with
autism
spectrum
disorder
and
the
support
and
guidance
we
have
received
from
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
on
a
daily
basis
in
each
of
our
60
Free
Library
locations
throughout
the
city.
H
Individuals,
with
ASD,
along
with
their
parents,
siblings
and
caregivers,
visit
our
libraries
to
take
advantage
of
our
many
resources.
These
individuals
come
to
attend
programming,
check
out
materials,
access,
our
public
computers
and
free
Wi-Fi,
and
explore
other
areas
of
interest
much
like
any
other
patron.
H
However,
this
audience
also
presents
a
unique
set
of
needs
and
opportunities
with
the
support
of
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
and
organizations
such
as
assert.
The
free
library
has
made
considerable
inroads
to
being
an
inclusive
and
welcoming
environment
to
individuals
with
autism
in
recent
years,
and
as
a
result
of
greater
awareness
surrounding
the
need
for
autism
related
services,
library
staff
has
reported
seeing
an
increase
in
individuals
with
autism,
visiting
neighborhood
and
regional
libraries.
In
response,
the
free
library
began
to
reach
out
to
area
experts
for
suggestions
on
best
practices.
H
This
led
us
to
a
partnership
with
the
Philadelphia
autism
project,
which
has
greatly
enhanced
our
understanding
and
service
to
this
population.
We
have
participated
in
various
efforts
through
our
partnership
and
look
forward
to
identifying
even
more
ways
to
be
of
service.
The
free
library
was
delighted
to
be
selected
to
host
the
autism
conference
for
families
and
caregivers
in
October
2015
the
event
attracted
150
attendees,
including
advocates
medical
personnel
and
families,
and
provided
a
value,
a
valuable
network,
an
informational
opportunity.
H
This
pilot
program
provides
an
internship
opportunity
in
which
students
can
learn
skills
and
build
the
independence
that
will
help
position
them
for
employment
opportunities
after
they
finish
school.
Currently,
four
students
from
mass
Charter
are
participating
in
job
training
activities
over
the
course
of
16
weeks
at
our
busselton
and
torres
dale
neighborhood
libraries
early
feedback
has
indicated
great
success
for
all
involved,
students
and
partners
alike,
and
we
hope
to
continue
the
program
again
during
the
2016-2017
school
year
in
2015,
our
torresdale
and
fumo
family
branch.
H
Libraries
were
each
awarded
$1,500
in
seed
funds
by
the
philadelphia
autism
project,
to
launch
sensory
storytimes
and
to
create
a
challenge
club
that
uses
board
games
to
facilitate
social
activities
and
interaction
among
youth
with
ASD
both
have
been
extremely
successful
and
are
continuing
at
these
locations.
The
library
has
also
held
multiple
screenings
of
videos
aimed
at
educating
the
Latino
Asian
American
and
African
American
communities
about
the
impacts
of
ASD
each
being
screened
at
a
neighborhood
library
whose
users
are
reflective
of
the
target
target
audience.
H
Staff
of
all
job
classes
have
attended
training
and
best
practices
and
services
provided
by
both
the
Children's
Hospital
of
Philadelphia
Center
for
autism,
research
and
spin.
These
trainings
have
served
to
better
equip
our
staff
to
deliver
services
and
programming
and
programming
have
resulted
in
greater
sensitivity
to
autism
related
needs
in
a
variety
of
special
programs.
We
commend
City
Council
and
this
committee
exploration
of
these
issues.
The
free
libraries
efforts
in
this
area
have
been
aided
immeasurably
by
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
and
we
encourage
its
continuation.
Thank
you.
I
Trying
to
understand
the
public
health
challenges
posed
by
autism.
We
study
whether
or
not
there's
ways
to
prevent
autism.
We
study
ways
to
identify
autism
as
early
as
possible
and
ways
to
more
effectively
disseminate
evidence,
supported
interventions
in
our
communities,
and
we
also
study
how
to
improve
quality
of
life
for
individuals
on
the
spectrum
throughout
the
lifespan
we've
federally
funded
research
from
from
NIH
person
and
other
federal
agencies.
I
We
are
very
serious
about
our
research
mission,
but
I
have
to
tell
you
that
that
that
the
work
that
we
do
supporting
initiatives
like
the
Philadelphia
autism
project,
an
assert,
is
really
some
of
those
gratifying
and
important
work
that
that
we
do,
because,
by
helping
support
these
initiatives,
we're
really
we're
really
doing
work,
helping
to
further
work
that
directly
impacts
the
citizens
in
our
city
with
autism
and-
and
we
take
this
service.
Part
of
our
mission
very
very
seriously.
I
Autism,
as
you've
heard,
is
a
huge
public
health
concern
nationally
and
in
the
city.
The
1i
half
percent
prevalence
estimate
that
you
hear.
If
you
apply
that
to
the
population
of
Philadelphia,
you
get
a
very
large
number
25
thousand
individuals
in
the
city
who
are
affected
by
autism
and
that's
going
to
be
considerably
larger
than
the
number
people
who
are
identified
through
the
autism
census,
because
the
census
is
identifying
folks
who
are
recognized
and
receiving
services
for
their
autism
diagnosis.
I
There
are
more
individuals
in
our
city
and
more
families
touched
by
autism
than
even
those
gaudy
numbers
represent.
We
have
to
bear
that
in
mind
when
we
think
about
the
challenges
that
we
face
and
again
the
work
that
the
Philadelphia
autism
project
is
doing.
I
think
it's
unique,
it
is
data
informed,
and
that
is
a
unique
element
about
it.
J
Good
afternoon
council
Calvin
down,
my
name
is
Frances
helium.
Captain
Healy
in
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
special
advisor
to
commissioner
Ross
with
me,
is
Michelle
Dow.
She
is
a
crisis
intervention
coordinator
that
works
between
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
and
the
Department
behavioral
health
and
intellectual
disabilities.
I
took
the
opportunity,
actually
I
kind
of
jumped
at
the
opportunity
to
talk
about
what
we
do
here
in
Philadelphia
with
the
police
department.
J
We've
done
some
pretty
innovative
things
primarily
with
our
crisis
intervention
team,
which
does
not
specifically
focus
on
autism,
but
it
encompasses
how
the
police
should
respond
to
people
with
autism,
Alzheimer's
disease
or
anybody
else
in
crisis
per
se.
The
efforts
that
we've
done
so
far,
I
guess
that
we
are
always
constantly
trying
to
evolve,
make
our
program
better.
We
implemented
the
program
2007
and
have
been
rolling
it
out
since
then
for
volunteer
officers.
Now
it's
incredibly
important
that
we
use
volunteer
officers
because
they
come
with
a
different
set
of
passion
towards
this
entire
subject
matter.
J
J
We
initially
came
up
with
a
program
working
with
Department
behavior
how
the
years
ago,
but
like
I,
said
we're
continuously
evolving
this
course,
and
that's
when
we
partnered
with
the
assert
individuals
and
the
whole
organizations
as
a
team
coming
together
with
a
better
way
or
better
method
for
our
officers
to
deal
with
people
in
crisis,
namely
autistics,
not
just
children,
istic
children
are
growing
up
and
being
able
to
deal
with
them
from
a
police
officers.
Perspective
is
incredibly
important.
How
we
respond
to
plea
to
people
in
crisis.
J
It
can
either
escalator
de-escalate
a
situation,
and
we
do
great
deal
of
training
and
education
where
our
officers
know
how
to
actually
de-escalate
situations
and
understanding
that
certain
tactics
and
procedures
that
we
use
in
law
enforcement
crime-fighting
per
se,
often
escalate.
These
situations,
crisis.
Intervention
training
is
I'll,
be
honest,
with
I've
used.
This
analogy.
Quite
all
is
the
bridge
between
two
worlds:
between
policing
and
the
mental
health
world,
and
every
every
old
of
resources
in
that
world,
and,
quite
frankly,
Michelle-
is
that
bridge
she's,
the
connecting
connection
for
the
officers
on
the
street.
J
They
make
one
phone
call
to
Michelle
and,
quite
frankly,
Michelle
connects
the
individuals
in
crisis
to
whatever
services
the
city
has
so,
whether
it
be
a
vet,
an
autistic
van,
her
family
with
an
autistic
child.
So
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department's
very
much
ingrained
into
this
whole
notion
of
making
sure
that
we
take
care
of
the
people
that
we
encounter.
People
in
crisis,
autistic
families
and
I'll,
be
very
honest.
Sometimes
it's
the
children
or
the
individuals
that
are
autistic.
They
don't
have
the
problem.
J
Sometimes
it's
the
family
members
that
are
often
in
crisis
when
they
have
called
the
police.
So
there's
a
lot
of
de-escalation
that
goes
on
and
understanding
that
notion
goes
a
long
way
and
we
also
I've
met
multiple
times
with
different
organizations
around
the
city
about
family
members
and
what
they
can
do
and
how
we
can
better
serve
their
kids
and,
quite
frankly,
we
have
a
mechanism
through
the
CIT
officers.
If
you
notify
me
in
advance
that
you
have
an
autistic
child,
I
can
put
that
into
our
police
radio
CAD
system.
J
So
an
officers
responding
to
your
house,
it
will
come
up
that
there
is
an
autistic
child
in
the
house,
so
the
officer
better
prepared
to
handle
that.
But
more
importantly,
you
can
ask
for
a
CIT
officer,
and
we
tell
parents
and
people
that
have
regularly
have
family
members
in
crisis
feel
free
to
ask
for
a
crisis
intervention
trained
officers
through
the
dispatcher
and
we'll
do
our
best
at
dispatched.
J
Like
I,
said
2,300
officers,
we
have
quite
a
few
number
quite
a
few
officers
on
every
tour
that
are
available
to
respond
I'm
here
really
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have.
This
is
the
above
and
beyond
the
training,
state
mandates
or
all
our
recruits,
get
a
basic
level
of
training
and
all
special
needs
every
so
often
every
ceremony
years,
the
MPO
Commission,
which
is
the
annual
licensing
agency,
basically
for
policing,
they
require
a
special
needs
component
that
hasn't
been
done
in
a
few
years,
but
this
is
above
and
beyond
what
the
state
required.
J
B
You
for
your
testimony
thank
everyone
panel
for
your
information.
The
captain
healing
from
your
work
I
think
he
said
2007
when
they
start
the
training
of
the
crisis,
intervention
team
and
you
have
about
2,300
officers.
Who've
now
voluntarily
decide
to
receive
that
training
at
Christ,
my
understanding
so
on
any
given
day,
you
have
how
many
officers,
I
would
say,
on
the
street
during
well
SS
ship,
during
a
shift
that
may
have
that
training
england.
Without
specifics,
I.
J
Honestly,
don't
have
the
numbers,
but
the
way
we
focused
the
training
was.
The
training
was
focused
primarily
on
911
responders,
which
are
your
district
police
officers.
So
we
didn't
intentionally
train
a
lot
of
the
special
units
because
they
would
not
be
available
right,
but
we
have
CIT
available.
I
can
honestly
say
without
any
reservations.
There
are
CIT
cops
available
around
the
clock
more
than
more
than
a
few
in
each
district.
At
this
point,
I
mean
it's
district.
J
F
J
If
we
do
cross
paths
as
law
enforcement
agencies,
we're
working
as
a
team,
so
I
we
open
it
up.
I
can't
honestly
anybody
wants
to
come
to
the
CIT
program.
I
allow
them
in
university
of
penn
temple
for
some
drexel
police
officers
have
been
to
the
program,
so
we
have
another,
probably
close
to
500
outside
jurisdiction
officers
that
have
also
gone
through
our
Philadelphia
CIT
program.
Thank.
B
You
I'm
doing
the
budget
testimony
for
the
police
department,
I
also
learned
about
I,
believe
it's
called
reality
based
training,
correct
and
then
for
officers.
I
think
you
have
about
400
officers
who
have
gone
through
that
training
and
that
your
training,
gentlemen
10
a
day
and
that
roommate
reality
based
training
includes
issues
including
autism.
So
that's
separate,
and
apart
than
the
CIT
training,
that.
J
Training
is
separate,
and
apart
of,
however,
I
have
I've
had
gone
through
it
and
I'm
trying
to
make
sure
that
everything
ties
in
with
the
CIT
program
some
of
the
scenarios
that
the
officers
are
faced
with
our
people
in
crisis,
not
necessarily
an
autistic
child.
But
the
question
is
people
just
refusing
police
commands?
What
do
you
do?
How
do
you
deal
with
them
and
making
sure
we
don't
overreact
and
actually
escalate
a
situation,
so
those
situations
are
incorporated
into
the
reality
based
training,
so
the
officers
getting
full
perspective?
J
It's
not
simply
a
shoe
or
don't
shoot
like
type
of
scenario.
It's
what
other
resources
can
they
also
do,
and
sometimes
especially
when
people
in
crisis,
the
best
avenue
is
really
three
steps
backwards:
oftentimes
that
that
can
de-escalate
a
situation
as
easily
as
that
and
those
are
the
things
we
train
our
officers
at
NCI
tea
and,
additionally,
the
officers
in
the
reality
based
training
as
well.
Okay
and.
J
K
My
name
is
michelle
dow,
I
am
the
crisis
intervention
team
coordinator
and
I
am
part
of
the
autism
project
task
for
stakeholder,
so
we
actually
worked
very
closely
with
them.
We
brought
them
in
to
have
a
conversation
and
their
focus.
What
we
wanted
them
to
do
is
I'm
have
a
focus
on
basically
providing
information
about
autism,
the
spectrum
and
then
giving
the
officer
some
tools
and
techniques
that
would
be
beneficial
once
they
leave
our
classroom
and
actually
go
back
out
to
the
street
and.
B
I'm
lined
up
counseling
dominate
the
question,
follow
up
and
you
may
or
may
not
know
this
answer
other
first
responders,
for
example,
fire
department.
Do
they
also
have
a
similar
involvement
with
the
autism
project?
Basic
understanding
has
been
any
collaborative
type
of
work
together
and
reference
to
what
the
place
to
and
also
fire
with,
the
Austin
project.
B
J
Answer
is
no,
we
don't
clout,
they
address.
Their
issues
are
much
different
than
ours
and
oftentimes
they're
their
medical
transport.
Many
times
will
assist
and
vice
versa,
but
there's
not
a
collaboration
with
crisis
intervention,
but
I'm
sure
the
fire
has
a
certain
response
protocol
for
different
individuals,
I'm
personally,
not
aware
of
it,
though.
Okay.
K
G
You,
chairman,
green
and
I
just
have
a
few
quick
remarks,
all
good,
nothing
bad,
but
I
will
say
that
I'm
impressed
actually
with
the
computer
community
impact
you
all
are
making
for
autism
I'm
impressed,
but
we
have
said
about
the
police
department
and
how
your
program
is
considered
like
one
of
the
top
programs
and
other
people
are
seeking
you
out
anything,
that's
great
for
Philadelphia
and
I.
Want
you
to
continue
to
do
with
that.
That's
that's
a
great
thing
and
I
want
to
speak
to
the
other
people
to
testify
tom
quinn
from
walla
street
theater.
G
That's
a
great
thing:
you're
helping
us
with
the
classrooms
and
what
you're
doing
with
kids
and
I
took
a
tour.
The
walnut
street
theatre,
the
oldest
theater
in
America,
is
in
Philadelphia
it's
amazing
institution.
We
should
support
it.
So
thank
you
and
also
want
to
speak
to
the
library.
If
I
wasn't
going
to
run
for
City
Council,
the
library
asked
me
to
be
on
the
board,
but
because
of
being
on
City
Council,
there
would
be
a
conflict.
I
didn't
continue,
but
you
guys
do
a
great
job
and
you
have
I
think
a
weeding
program.
G
Four
by
four
and
there's
a
lot
of
things,
library
does-
and
you
know
one
of
the
interesting
facts
of
the
library
is
that
when
you
have
a
home
with
and
I
think
it's
all
a
mile
of
a
library,
it's
worth
more
money
at
homes
that
are
not
just
shows
you
the
importance
of
libraries,
and
let
me
speak
to
the
last
one
aj
drexel
right.
So
this
is
special
to
me.
But
besides
drexel
and
craig
university
does
a
great
job
and
john
fries
a
great
leader
and
and
really
one
of
our
great
leaders
in
philadelphia.
G
What
he's
doing
he's?
What
is
you
know,
it's
great
for
the
city
and
I
have
a
special
trash
in
the
Drexel,
but
it's
in
a
weird
way
and
I'll
tell
you
why
I'm
glad
what
everything
you've
mentioned,
but
I
own,
a
building,
call
the
Drexel
building
and
its
at
15th
and
walnut
and
last
week
took
me
a
little
while
I.
Finally,
rented
building
was
built,
1904
I,
finally,
rented
Anthony
drexels
old
office
space
from
1904.
It
wasn't
baking
the
whole
time
they
can
maybe
a
year,
but
special
space,
you're,
a
special
institution
and
I
applaud.
G
B
I
want
to
just
follow
up
on
council
knows
comments
in
reference
to
the
work
that
you
do
in
the
community
and
I'm
curious
in
reference
to
both
the
library
as
well
as
Wall
Street
Theater.
How
did
you
first
initially
get
contacted
by
the
Philippine
autism
project
in
reference
to
the
opportunity
for
a
seat
award.
H
Councilman
we
actually
reached
out
to
them
because,
as
we
discovered
that
we
had
a
lack
of
training
among
staff
on
how
to
deal
with
people
with
autism
and
other
special
needs,
we
basically
did
what
librarians
do.
We
went
out
and
searched
for
experts
in
the
field
and
that's
where
we
came
upon.
The
Philadelphia
autism
project
and
they'd
been
extremely
helpful.
A
A
He
and
I
met
at
the
Philadelphia
autism,
walk
back
in
two
thousand
six
or
2007,
and
so
I
mentioned
that
we
were
interested
in
doing
more
work
with
the
community
with
kids,
with
special
needs
in
particular,
and
we're
seeing
the
great
effect
the
theatre
could
have
four
kids
in
that
population
and
that's
started
the
conversation.
Okay.
B
Calvin
dumb,
you
didn't
preface
that
with
a
simple
question
you
said
earlier,
you
had
a
simple
question.
That
definitely
was
a
simple
question,
so
at
this
point
there
any
for
the
people
who
testified
in
panel
1
or
panel
to
if
I
didn't
know.
If
we
want
to
offer
any
on
closing
remarks
information-
and
we
will
be
continuing
this
conversation
tomorrow,
two
o'clock
I
wanted
to
offer
the
opportunity
for
any
of
the
first
panelist
or
second
panelists
if
they
want
to
provide
any
additional
information
before
we
close
the
hearing
to
the
call
of
the
chair,
I.
A
Think
for
me,
the
only
thing
I'd
like
to
add
is
that
I'm
thrilled
that
we're
able
to
continue
the
programming
but
I
am.
It
was
particularly
exciting
for
us
to
be
able
to
offer
it
at
low-cost
or
no-cost.
The
first
time
that
we
offered
it
it's
very
expensive
for
us
to
teaching
ours
together
and
get
the
training
involved
and
that
opportunity
I
think
opened
it
up
to
a
much
larger
population
of
the
city.
And
if
we're
able
to
continue
this
program,
we
can
continue
it
for
the
kids.
Soon.
B
Actually,
you
in
your
statement
made
me
think
of
something
else.
Were
you
surprised
that
you
may
have
had
existing
members
that
had
children
or
other
relatives
on
the
spectrum
that
once
they
learned
about
this
type
of
about
me,
we're
having
in
replica
autism
that
even
helped
to
deepen
their
involve
in
Walnut
Street
order
library
that.
A
That's
very
true
our
we're
nonprofit
and
we
raise
a
significant
portion
of
operating
budget
for
our
theater
and
there
been
a
number
of
board
members
and
other
donors
that
if
people
have
become
donors
with
us
by
finding
out
about
this
program
because
I
think,
as
you
experience
personally
and
I've
experienced
personally,
the
network
of
people
affected
by
autism
is
staggering.
Leave
asked.
And
so,
when
they
found
out,
we
were
involved
in
this.
People
who
are
not
previously
involved
in
supporting
our
programming
have
come
forward.
I.
H
B
B
F
F
B
B
F
Learn
with
is
our
brain,
something
that's
been
my
passion
for
more
than
half
my
life
when
someone
crashed
into
me
and
gave
me
a
traumatic
brain
injury
that
five
years
later
led
to
epilepsy
and
temporal
lobe
epilepsy
they've
been
learning
since
2013
now
in
adults,
because
it
gives
us
autism,
which
begins
to
explain
a
lot.
Why
people
got
very
misunderstanding
of
me
at
24
years
old,
I'm
now,
48
other
change
that
happened
in
my
life
and
I
had
had
a
college
degree
and
I
tutored
other
students
and
everything.
I
was
a
very
healthy
person.
F
Every
chance,
a
trend
today,
I
was
into
before
it
was
a
trend,
the
vitamins,
the
vegetarian,
I'm
God,
gifted
artist,
I'm
living
proof,
artists,
therapy,
I've
been
doing
it
all
and
I
was
very
misunderstood.
Like
that
woman
who
talked
about
her
son
up
here
and
when
it
came
into
his
life,
mind
began
in
92
just
two
years
after
the
ad
a
and
when
I
battled
for
that
right,
America
knew
nothing
about
epilepsy.
It
was
seen
as
a
mentor.
F
If
you're
going
to
judge
by
that,
I'm
going
to
be
able
to
assume
very
easily
when
you
go
to
a
library
like
the
librarian
that
were
up
here,
it's
very
obvious,
you're
missing
a
lot
of
great
books,
because
it's
obvious
how
you
go
to
a
library
and
read
a
book.
You
don't
you're
just
going
to
look
at
the
cover
and
think
you
know
the
story
and
you're
missing
out
a
whole
lot
of
good
stories.
F
So
I've
been
doing
my
job
and
I've
been
wanting
to
also
many
of
you
have
known
many.
They
aren't
in
here
my
dear
angel
John
Ross.
He
was
a
retired,
City
police
officer
of
the
city
and
a
commissioner
and
five
years
ago,
just
last
month,
his
wings
spread
and
flow
without
him.
I
wouldn't
have
gone
through
the
risk
of
that
brain
surgery,
but
he
works
through
me
too,
because
he
was
coming
here
and
telling
a
lot
of
you
of
what
I
was
sharing
through
him.
F
I
also
met
senator
Specter,
said
her
Casey
governor
rendell,
Bob
Brady,
everybody
who
all
knows
me
because
that's
where
I've
been
advocating
through
all
these
years,
even
before
I
met
him
because
I
don't
want
to
see
anybody
go
through
what
I
went
through
when
this
came
into
my
life,
I
went
to
find
out
everything.
I
could
about
epilepsy
in
the
brain
and
learned
that
there
was
this
much
and
if
there
was
anything,
was
just
about
children
and
seniors,
and
what
I've
learned
I've
been
sharing.
I
communicate
very
well.
F
I
helped
President
Obama
even
do
the
film
banking
for
the
health
insurance,
because
I
had
health
insurance.
Before
this
all
happened
to
mean
they
left
me
when
I
needed
the
most
so
I
became
my
goal.
I
couldn't
even
talk
eight
years
ago
or
do
anything
it's
driving
determination,
I'm,
proof,
nothing
stops
you!
Unless
you
let
it
and
I
won't
it's
not
the
money
that
keeps
me
going.
I've
always
knew.
True
richness
is
what's
inside
it's
a
soul.
F
My
job
is
working
for
God,
but
us
beings
with
disabilities
like
I,
try
and
remind
people
our
greatest
President
Roosevelt.
If
he
didn't
hide
his
wheels
and
his
epilepsy
back
in
his
day,
he
wouldn't
have
been
peep.
I
would
have
been
killed,
special
cuz,
the
epilepsy,
but
none
of
us
have
to
hide
a
thing
today,
like
those
gays
and
lesbians
and
blacks.
Wanting
all
the
Equality
us
with
disability.
Still
today,
especially
when
our
adults
still
21,
is
64
the
highest
percentage
of
it
today,
which
is
the
age
where
we
want
to
be
working.
F
F
So
when
she
comes
back
and
she's
able,
she
should
have
that
job
still
but
like
when
my
epic,
my
brain
surgery
happened
eight
years
ago,
so
this
quote-unquote
smartphone,
just
controlled
by
a
brain,
can't
work
without
one
no
doors
remained
open
to
me.
This
seemed
like
everybody
enjoyed
taking
total
discrimination
and
advantage
of
me
and
what
I
couldn't
remember
not
even
had
a
dress,
its
lucky
I
didn't
kill
myself,
because
I
thank
off
my
neuropsychologist.
His
know
me
for
ten
years
now:
oh
she's
there
for
me,
because
a
lot
of
us
kill
ourselves
too.