A police department in Lackawanna County is looking to help drivers on the autism spectrum with blue envelopes.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — A name, a few contact numbers, and a brief description about autism on a simple blue envelope is helping police officers in Throop identify drivers who may need more assistance during a traffic stop.

“And then it tells you to keep your hands on the steering wheel, so it’s giving them some instructions too, before we even approach the car, so everybody’s safe,” said Chief Andy Kerecman, Throop Police Department.

The Blue Envelope Program, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health, is new to Throop Police Chief Andy Kerecman, his officers, and Lackawanna County. They are the first local department to adopt the tool that helps to identify drivers on the autism spectrum.

“I thought it was a good idea. It sort of mirrors the Yellow Dot Program that PennDOT has, and after speaking to her, I was interested in it. So we set up training for the officers for our training, so all our officers are trained,” said Chief Kerecman.

“My son has also high-functioning autism. He does drive, but we have to anticipate teaching him things that I don’t necessarily have to teach my other kids. They learn intuitively,” said Cheryl Stehle, advocate.

Cheryl Stehle is an advocate for people with autism and the founder of Autism Toolbox Training.

She’s helped prepare Throop police officers and has helped spread the blue envelope program in other parts of Pennsylvania.

“But we would love to see it in all 67 counties because when MOPEC, when municipal police trains the police officers, we want them to be training the police officers, all of them, all 67 counties, with one message. This is the communication device that you can use. Here’s a tool that you can recognize,” said Stehle.

With the new initiative starting just a few days ago, Kerecman is eager to offer another way to connect police officers and community members. “Once we receive the envelope immediately, we would know what’s going on as opposed to someone maybe we’re thinking they’re they don’t wanna talk to us because they feel that they’re gonna incriminate themselves or something. It, it just, it’s a, it’s just a tool to give us a heads up to really know what’s going on in the vehicle, who’s driving, etc.,” he said.

To find out more about the Blue Envelope Program, click here.