Autism & First Responder Safety in Bucks County
Interactions between individuals with autism and law enforcement can be stressful for everyone involved, especially when communication is hard in the moment. The good news is that Bucks County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offer real, concrete tools to prepare before an encounter ever happens.
This page brings those tools together in one place: ways to register your information so responders know in advance, county programs that shape how police respond, and things you can carry or display. Where possible, we link you directly to the official source so you always have the most current information.
This page is for informational purposes. Programs and contact details can change — when in doubt, contact your local police department’s non-emergency line or the relevant agency directly.
Register Your Information in Advance
These tools let emergency responders know about your household or family member before they arrive, so they’re prepared, not surprised.
Smart911 Safety Profiles
A free, secure service that links your phone numbers to a detailed safety profile. If anyone in your household calls 911, your profile can appear for the dispatcher with information including a diagnosis of autism, sensory sensitivities, communication needs, and helpful de-escalation approaches. Profiles are created online, and if you don’t have computer access, your county can assist.
Premise History & Special Needs Forms
Many police departments in Bucks County let residents file information in advance about a family member with autism or other special needs. This can include things like sensory sensitivities, communication methods, calming techniques, and what to expect if officers respond to your home. Some departments call this a Special Needs Registry. Others call it a Premise History Form, a Handle with Care Registry, or something else entirely. The name changes, but the goal is the same: giving first responders what they need to know before they arrive.
Why It Matters
When police or EMS respond to a call, they usually know very little about who lives at that address. For a person with autism, an unexpected encounter with a stranger in uniform can be overwhelming, especially if they’re nonverbal, sensitive to lights or sound, or likely to react in a way that could be misread. A few minutes spent filling out a form now can mean the difference between a response that goes smoothly and one that doesn’t. This is completely voluntary, and it’s one of the simplest ways to prepare your family for an emergency before it happens.
How to Use This Tool
- Find your local police department in the list below.
- Follow the specific instructions listed for that department. Some have an online form you can fill out right now. Others ask you to call or email to enroll. A few have a form you can download, print, and mail or fax in.
- Don’t See Your Department Listed? Not every Bucks County police department has a formal program yet, and if you live in a township without its own police department (covered by Pennsylvania State Police), you may not have a local department to contact at all. Either way, you have a direct option: email the Bucks County 911 Dispatch Center at [email protected] with the resident’s name, address, and relevant special needs information. This registers the address directly in the county’s dispatch system, so any responder sent to your home such as police, fire, or EMS will see it, regardless of which department covers your area. You can also download and fill out this Premise History Form from ASERT (Pennsylvania’s autism resource collaborative), then bring or send it to your local department if you have one. Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for the download.
Buckingham Township PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry so first responders have this information on file before an emergency. Fill Out the Form →
Doylestown Township PD
Fill out the online Persons With Disability Information Program form so first responders have this information on file before an emergency. Fill Out the Form →
Hilltown Township PD
Download the Premise Alert Information Form and submit it to the department. Download the Form →
Lower Makefield Township PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry to share helpful information with local responders. Fill Out the Form →
Middletown Township
Call 215-750-3812 or email [email protected] at the Department of Fire & Emergency Services to enroll in the Special Needs Registry. Read Full Description Here
New Britain Township PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry to share sensory sensitivities, communication needs, and de-escalation tips with local responders. Fill Out the Form →
Newtown Township PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry to give responders advance notice about a family member with autism or another special need. Fill Out the Form →
Northampton Township PD
Call the Quality of Life Unit at 215-322-6111 to enroll in the F.I.N.D.S. Program. Read more here: Family Information Network Data System
Perkasie Borough PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry — Perkasie was the first Bucks County department to launch this program. Fill Out the Form →
Upper Makefield Township PD
Download the Residential Special Needs Form, fill it out, and mail or fax it to the department 215-968-3618. Download the Form →
Warrington Township PD
Fill out the online Handle with Care Registry so responders have helpful information before they arrive. Fill Out the Form →
Warwick Township PD
No formal registry, but the department invites residents with special or medical needs to call Lt. Aaron Richwine at 215-343-6102 ext. 411 to plan ahead for emergency response.
Bucks County Programs That Shape How Police Respond
Bucks County has invested in programs and training that change how officers interact with individuals who have autism or other communication and behavioral needs.
Blue Envelope Program
If you’re pulled over, a blue envelope in your car door can speak for you. Keep your license, registration, and insurance inside it, and if you’re stopped, hand the officer the envelope. It lets them know right away that the driver or a passenger has a communication disability, so they can adjust how they approach the stop. Every police department in Bucks County now offers this program, and it’s free.
Co-Responder Program
Some Bucks County police departments pair officers with a trained mental health or crisis professional who responds alongside them on certain calls. This means a person in crisis, including someone with autism who may be overwhelmed or non-responsive, is more likely to get a response built around de-escalation rather than force.
CIT Training
Since 2008, Bucks County has trained police officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) techniques, giving them tools to recognize and respond to mental health crises, developmental disabilities, and autism-related behaviors with patience instead of force. Not every officer on every call will have this training, but the program has been building this capacity countywide for over 15 years.
Tools to Carry or Display
Physical tools that help in the moment, for both home and away.
PA State Police Autism Card
The PA State Police offer a free, printable informational card that a person with autism can carry and present during any interaction with law enforcement. The card signals “I Have Autism” and prompts officers to be patient and use a calm, direct voice. It’s available in full-color, grayscale, and quarter-page sizes, and in English and Spanish, all free to print at home.
Know of a Resource We’re Missing?
This page is a living resource, and Bucks County departments are adding new programs all the time. If you know of a department with a form we haven’t listed, a program that’s changed, or a resource that would help another family, we’d love to hear from it.