Episode #18 - Wandering and Elopement, with Shelly McLaughlin and Officer Laurie Reyes

Today's episode highlights wandering and elopement.

My first guest is Shelly McLaughlin. Shelly is the parent of a teenage son with Asperger’s Syndrome and is a Program Director at Pathfinders for Autism in Maryland. Shelly has developed and conducted Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disability (ASD/IDD) Trainings for various organizations including law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS staff, corrections officers, colleges, Exceptional Family Programs, state's attorneys and public defenders, adult medical day programs, restaurants, schools, hotels, libraries, foster care programs, and other professional organizations. Shelly is a certified police instructor by the Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission, CIT certified through Montgomery County Police, and certified in Mental Health First Aid through Harford County Sheriff's Office.

My second guest is Officer Laurie Reyes. Officer Reyes has been a Montgomery County Police officer for 23 years. In 2005, she created and implemented what is now called the Montgomery County Police Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Alzheimer's, Dementia Outreach Program and has served in this program since that time. Officer Reyes has received recognition from the White House as a “White House, Champion of Change for Youth and Law Enforcement”. In 2018 she was recognized by the Department of Justice and received the Attorney General’s Award for “Distinguished Service in Policing”. She also received a Governor’s Citation for the creation and continued coordination of the Montgomery County Police Autism/IDD, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach Program.
www.PathFindersforAutism.org/resources/safety/
www.MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/pol/howdoi/autism-alzheimer-outreach.html
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Disclaimer: The podcast is intended for educational purposes only and isn’t medical advice. Please talk to your doctor if you have questions. The views and opinions expressed by me are my own personal opinions.

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