Carrollton police partner with local family to raise awareness

A simple blue envelope is helping create safer and less stressful interactions between law enforcement and drivers with communication disabilities, and one Carroll County family hopes sharing its experience will encourage others to learn about the program.

The Carrollton Police Department and Miller family is helping raise awareness of Ohio’s Blue Envelope Program, a voluntary initiative designed to assist drivers with autism spectrum disorder or other communication disabilities during traffic stops and other interactions with law enforcement.

The program allows individuals to keep important documents, emergency contacts and information about communication challenges inside a blue envelope that alerts officers before or during an interaction. Participants may also display a Blue Envelope Program decal on their vehicle to notify officers additional communication considerations may be needed.

For Angie Miller, the program offered peace of mind for her son, Aaron Miller, who is 28 years old, profoundly deaf and non-verbal.

“He has always wanted to do as his brother and sister do in life, and that included driving,” Angie Miller said. “He was able to get his driver’s license when he was 18. He is a very cautious driver.”

Angie Miller said parents of individuals with disabilities often think about everyday situations differently, especially interactions with law enforcement.

“I have always been nervous about what an officer would think when Aaron started ‘talking’ to him,” she said. “He is difficult to understand. This blue envelope would offer a very quick explanation for the officer.”

After learning about the program through a Carroll Hills School newsletter, Angie Miller obtained a blue envelope packet that included information sheets, emergency contact forms and a blue vehicle decal.

Knowing Aaron learns best through experience, Angie Miller contacted Carrollton Police Chief Tim Timberlake to arrange a mock traffic stop so her son could become familiar with the process.

During the interaction, Aaron Miller handed Timberlake the blue envelope and quickly became more comfortable as the stop continued.

“He was anxious, of course, but quickly read Mr. Timberlake’s demeanor and realized it was OK,” Angie Miller said. “I appreciate our beautiful small town and how we take care of each other.”

Chief Tim Timberlake said the envelope helps officers better understand communication challenges during a stop.

“The envelope explains what challenges that person may have,” Timberlake said. “It helped us understand how Aaron communicates, so we knew he may not respond the same way someone normally would during a traffic stop.”

Timberlake said the program helps officers avoid misinterpreting behaviors that otherwise could be mistaken as uncooperative.

“It helps him communicate with us and helps us understand what challenges there are,” he said. “That way we can get through the stop successfully, keep everyone at ease and make sure no one gets hurt.”

Timberlake said the department’s goal is to ensure every interaction is handled with professionalism, patience and compassion.

“Programs like the Blue Envelope help officers recognize situations where someone may communicate differently, allowing us to slow things down and make the interaction safer and less stressful for everyone,” he said.

Angie Miller said she hopes both law enforcement and the public continue to recognize the importance of inclusion and understanding.

“People with disabilities desire to do the same things and be accepted as the rest of our population,” she said. “This blue envelope helps ensure Aaron is treated with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves.”

The National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities noted the Blue Envelope Program is not operated as one centralized national system. The alliance states individual law enforcement agencies and organizations develop and implement their own versions of the program based on local procedures and needs.

Families interested in learning more about the Blue Envelope Program can contact the Carrollton Police Department or Carroll Hills School, or visit the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities about the program at nps-aid.org/blue-envelope-program/.