Elkins man helps advocate for autism police training

Yahoo

28-03-2025

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — After a personal run-in with law enforcement last year, an Elkins man is shedding light on police training involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as autism awareness month approaches in April.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can look different for every individual who has it. When John Antolini, a man with ASD, was stimming in public and perceived as a disturbance, he wanted to help draw attention to how law enforcement can better help the public understand that autism is not a threat.
12 News spoke with Antolini on his feelings about the confrontation.
'I remember right afterwards I felt so…I felt seriously persecuted as though I had done something wrong,' said Antolini.
While visiting the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins with a group of friends, John Antolini was confronted by law enforcement for his behavior and was threatened with removal from the event if he didn't settle down.
Like many with autism, Antolini was 'stimming', or self-stimulating, to help process all the activity going on around him.
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Back in 2020, West Virginia State Lieutenant Kenneth Murray helped pass a mandate that required all law enforcement officers to undergo autism training during initial training and every three years after to help avoid incidents like Antolini's.
'I ask every officer, I say, 'take half a second, think, maybe this is autism', that's all that I want you to do,' said Lieutenant Murray.
Having two children with autism spectrum disorder, autism training for law enforcement is an essential factor for the field that Lieutenant Murray holds dear to his heart.
'Most people who have children with ASD, that are still caring for, whether they're young or they're adults, a lot of them have had to pick up the phone and call 911. They don't want to, but their expectation is when they get here, I need help,' said Lieutenant Murray.
'I'm lucky enough to have a support system, and I'm privileged enough to live on my own and be able to pay bills and participate in society, but there are other people whose condition is much more severe than mine, and they can't advocate for themselves,' said Antolini.
As far as resources go for individuals with ASD, options vary from county to county, something Lieutenant Murray hopes to resolve with the help of more officer and caregiver involvement.
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