CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — April is Autism Awareness Month, and local autism advocate Dustin Cronan he has put on presentations for the last two years to help educate law enforcement on how to engage with people on the autism spectrum while on the job.
Dustin was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. He also has a son who is 4, and has autism as well.
Thursday afternoon in Bishop he met with local law enforcement from across the Coastal Bend to explain some of the signs or gestures that come with the disability.
He tells 3NEWS some of those include lack of eye contact, having trouble articulating stories, getting nervous, shaking hands a lot, stuttering, and sometimes being nonverbal.
Cronan said he hopes presentations such as Thursday's will help police and other first responders recognize and communicate with people on the autism spectrum, as well as others who have disabilities.
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