Opinion: Ethan Saylor's Death Deservedly Under Investigation Again

Ethan Saylor would be alive today if Frederick County sheriff’s deputies had exercised good judgment and restraint.
Instead, they ignored explicit warnings from the caretaker who accompanied Mr. Saylor, who had Down syndrome, and physically confronted him over an unpaid $12 movie ticket. In the ensuing scuffle, he died of asphyxia. The Maryland medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide. A grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against the three off-duty deputies, who were working as security guards at the movie theater in Frederick.That shouldn’t be the end of the story.

Ind. Mandates Autism Training For First Responders

INDIANAPOLIS -- Policy changes are taking place among Indiana's first responders.

It's now mandatory for first responders to receive autism training so they will know how to interpret an autistic child's behavior in the event of an emergency.

Officials said that although it's common for autistic children to wander away from home, each child's behavior may vary, 6News' Stacia Matthews reported.

Autism and Police: Improving Interactions

Tales of sour interactions between police and people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) appear to be trending. Last month in Tampa Bay, an autistic teen was killed by police who were called to his home on a domestic disturbance call. Earlier this year, an autistic teen in Virginia was found guilty for assaulting a police officer.
As to why these incidents are increasing, autism advocate Dennis Debbaudt has two theories:
Firstly, diagnosis rates are up. Secondly, “back in the late ’60s, ‘early 70s, most people with autism, developmental disabilities, mental illness were living in institutions,” Debbaudt says. “Those days are long over.”