The COPS Training Portal announces the availability of a new eLearning course, Better Encounters: Police and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI) in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Better Encounters enhances the capacity of law enforcement to identify and effectively interact with community members who may have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) during traffic stops and other exchanges in the community.
The significant and rising prevalence of I/DD in the population makes this course especially pertinent for law enforcement and other safety practitioners with a focus on traffic safety. Better Encounters presents the rationale for learning more about people with I/DD, including the growing rates of specific disabilities and the likely contexts for interactions with police during traffic-related contact. The course also provides the means of identifying behaviors that are characteristic of those with I/DD, developing strategies for having positive interactions, and improving situational awareness and decision-making. Ultimately, the greater the awareness law enforcement officers have of the conditions and people they are likely to encounter, the better equipped they are to effectively manage a diverse range of situations.
This course is designed for law enforcement officers and other public safety practitioners with a focus on traffic stops.
Learners should expect to spend approximately 3 hours exploring the content and resources in this course.
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