April is Autism Awareness Month, and the police department in Bedford, Massachusetts is contributing to the promotion of inclusion and understanding through a new initiative. The need for autism inclusion and awareness is more crucial now than ever, as autism affects 1 in 54 children in the U.S., according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). According to a report by Lowell Sun.com, the Bedford Police Officer’s Association has partnered with Riggio Auto Repair to sell a limited amount of Bedford Police autism awareness patches in April. Proceeds from the patches, which cost $20, will go to the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Bedford Police Department is encouraging residents who have purchased the patches to take pictures of them and share them on social media. Other police departments in the United States are also taking part in the autism patch initiative this year, such as the police department in Braintree, Massachusetts, and the department in Bernard’s Township, New Jersey. Robert Bongiorno, chief of the Bedford Police Department, said the department is “thrilled to be partnering with the Flutie Foundation to raise money for autism awareness. Autism touches the lives of so many people in our community and beyond, and we encourage everyone to purchase one of these patches to help support this worthy cause.” Source: https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/03/18/bedford-police-patch-in-to-autism-awareness/