06/16/2026
Attention autism families!
We never want it to happen, but in the event of an autistic child becoming lost or being in an accident, they may not have someone to help them communicate their needs. The Antrim County Sheriff’s Department is training their officers to better serve children with autism. One of their initiatives is to identify the individuals and get information about their needs.
The form gets information about your individual child that may be helpful for someone taking care of them when you aren’t there. The sticker can be placed on your car (if there is ever an accident) or your home (in the event of a fire or other emergency) to alert responders that an autistic child might need specialized care. The deputies are also being given bags containing dark glasses, noise canceling headphones, a weighted blanket, and fidgets to help comfort a child in an unpredictable environment.
These forms and stickers are available at the Antrim County Sheriff’s office in Bellaire. Sheriff Hoch shared two of these forms and the accompanying stickers with me if you aren’t able to get to Bellaire.
