Nevada mandates autism awareness training for emergency personnel
By Talia Kirkland
Published on April 28, 2026.
A new law in Nevada mandates autism awareness training for first responders, allowing them to interact with individuals with autism. The training could potentially be lifesaving for families like Anna Marie Binder, a mother of two sons on the autism spectrum. Research from Indiana University indicates that nearly 1 in 5 people with autism will have a police interaction by age 21, and at least 5 percent are arrested. Jimmy Donahoe, a retired lieutenant from Pensacola and creator of a first-responder autism training program, believes recognizing signs such as repetitive behavior or delayed motor skills can significantly improve the outcome.
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