National Disability ID Improves Interaction with Law Enforcement, First Responders

“Nobody should have to worry about being gunned down by police, or attacked by security staff, just because there was a misunderstanding”, says Athena Stevens, a contributor at The Mighty. This worry extends to families and loved ones of persons living with invisible disabilities like Carissa Rupp, a mother of a daughter with autism. Rupp writes, “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to not worry about how my daughter would react to a police officer pointing a gun at her. The fact of the matter is, she will run.”

A study from the Ruderman Family Foundation shows that disabled individuals make up 33-50% of all people killed by law enforcement officers. This raises the issue of non-apparent, or hidden (invisible) disabilities in relation to a person’s contact with law enforcement. Many of these contacts can happen when the police respond to emergencies including a mental health crisis, or a routine inspection.

The following are some examples of how an invisible disability can be misunderstood:

• A person with diabetes may be mistaken for being under the influence.
• A person carrying medication could be suspected of illegal drug use.
• A person whose hearing is impaired or deaf may appear to be ignoring a law enforcer’s commands.
• A person with an intellectual or developmental disability may not process an officer’s commands and appear to be non-compliant.
• A person with autism may run from a police officer.
• A person with a sensory disorder may become violent if touched due to sensory defensiveness that provokes a “fight or flight” response.