Kelberman Partners with Oneida County Sheriff’s Office

Kelberman is proud to announce its recent collaboration with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Staff has trained the Mohawk Valley Police Academy class of 2024 on critical aspects of autism and best practices for safe interactions.  Bethany Wendt, Kelberman Director of Community Relations and Amanda Cowan, Kelberman Senior Licensed Behavior Analyst, along with parent and advocate Kathy Caruso of Better Together all led the training. According to Kathy, “It was quite a privilege to speak about Autism to the new recruits at the Mohawk Valley Police Academy.  I am blessed by their bravery and willingness to serve all communities and to ensure dignified and safe outcomes for the population with autism and other disabilities.”

Recognizing the importance of safe and positive interactions between individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families and law enforcement, the Oneida County Police Academy has committed to ensuring that all recruits are equipped with knowledge and tools that prepare them for a diverse range of interactions within the community. The training emphasized Autism awareness, acceptance, advocacy and alliance.

“I am very excited and proud that we were able to have trained staff from both Kelberman and Better Together spend time in the classroom with our law enforcement recruits delivering critical training on autism awareness and response. This is the first time that we have taken this big step to ensure that we are building a strong bridge between law enforcement and everyone in the communities that we serve,” according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.

The Kelberman mission focuses on promoting inclusivity and understanding within the community. Training sessions aim to increase awareness and acceptance of autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants receive an overview of Kelberman’s history, mission, vision, and core values, along with insights into the range of programs and services available. The training also covered key concepts related to autism, including statistics, the significance of early intervention, and the importance of inclusive practices. By fostering understanding and advocacy, Kelberman improves support for people with developmental disabilities.

Kelberman invites organizations, employees, and board members to participate in future training sessions. Whether you seek to deepen your understanding of autism, improve inclusivity in your professional or personal life, or learn about available services, Kelberman is dedicated to supporting your journey. Kelberman offers this training to businesses, organizations, key leadership staff and board of directors and cater it to what is best for the organization or business. For more information about training programs provided by Kelberman, please contact Bethany Wendt at bethany.wendt@kelbermancenter.org.