The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Partnering with Law Enforcement for Inclusion and Support (New Initiative)

Project Goal
Establish initiatives for inclusion, support, and policy related to police encounters with people with developmental disabilities (DD)

Project Summary
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is partnering with law enforcement agencies, self-advocates, and family members across Texas to address barriers that impact people with DD when they are in situations that involve law enforcement. Police and other law officers can misunderstand the words, actions, and needs of people with DD they encounter. Some people with DD can also be unfamiliar with how police officers do their job.

This project has the following goals:

• Conduct a gap analysis of police encounters with people with DD and develop recommendations to address barriers to protecting the health, safety, and civil rights of people with DD
• Engage with Texas law enforcement agencies to create a training course and other initiatives to educate police on how they can strengthen inclusion and support for people with DD
• Establish networks for ongoing education and advocacy support between people with DD, family members, and law enforcement officials  
    

As a comprehensive health science university, UTHealth’s mission is to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences, and model the best practices in clinical care and public health.

TCDD funds New Initiative projects to create new ways for Texans with DD to be included in their communities. New Initiative projects identify and propose innovative solutions to a statewide, regional, or local need. The projects may include programs, partnerships, or policy initiatives to address specific needs that emerge. The projects may also focus on benefiting unserved or underserved groups.