New tools to help individuals with special needs

Dalton Sawyers and Cole Davis (Left) give a presentation on a new software program that aims to improve public safety responses for individuals with special needs. Photo by Jeff Harrison

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Midwest City first responders will be better prepared to help individuals with special needs thanks to a new program.

The S.A.Id (Special Needs Alerts and Identification) program allows parents, guardians and caretakers to share information and a photo with first responders to improve their response and interactions with individuals with special needs.

“This will help us identify individuals who might not be able to talk, or they don’t respond to us in a way that we always know how to react to,” said Hayley Dayer, Midwest City fire prevention officer. “Our police and firefighters will know how to approach them and know where they live.”

The registration form includes questions about physical traits, type of special needs, medical conditions, home address, and contact information. Most information is optional. Participants will also be asked to provide a photo of the individual.

The program is optional and can be used for people of all ages.

Midwest City’s GIS (Geographic information system) staff helped create a software program for the S.A.Id. The program will allow people to register online and complete the questionnaire. Police and firefighters will easily be able to access the information remotely

“If you run up on someone who is noncommunicative, we wanted to give them a tool to be able to figure out who that person is,” said Cole Davis, GIS coordinator.

The program uses the same platform the city uses for all mapping, zoning, planning, public works and public safety. It took staff about 40 hours to build.

The fire department started talking about the idea after responding to fires that involved individuals with special needs, as well as fire prevention for people with autism. They learned about the S.A.Id program which has been used by the cities of Norman and Mustang.

“Norman was the first ones to do this, and we’ve grown off of what they did,” said Duane Helmberger, Midwest City Fire Marshall.

Helmberger said they wanted to better identify the locations of individuals.

“Fire crews understand that we may have individuals that may hide under a bed or in a closet at home is extremely important and we’ve just never had any of that data,” Helmberger said.

The fire department is launching the program with Mid-Del Schools this week.

Tressa Wilson executive director of special services for Mid-Del Schools, said she’s impressed with the program that aims to help the community, specifically the special needs population.

“I feel that when first responders are equipped with more information that helps them in the way they respond to situations. And this system will do that,” Wilson said. “It ensures our community’s first responders have the best response in case of emergencies for families with members that have special needs.”

Wilson believes that parents are always looking for support for their children, especially where safety is concerned.

“I can see numerous families taking advantage of this system,” she said.

Registration for citizens will be available on the City of Midwest City’s websites in the next few weeks.