Meet Christopher Timmins

We ask all our partners the same questions. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know our guest!

1. Please share your relationship to autism: As parents to two neurodivergent sons, one of whom is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, we saw the supports and patience needed to help them succeed. We also saw the multiple misunderstanding and misinterpretations not only in society, but also during interactions with our first responders. As a 25 year law enforcement officer, I also recognized the lack of training for our first responders (law enforcement and fire service) about autism. Sadly, we also saw the outcomes where the first responders misinterpreted and misunderstood autism in the media.
   

2. What services does your organization provide? We provide in person nationally credentialed autism awareness training for first responders, and professional staff members of law enforcement and fire service agencies locally in Arizona, and nationally. We don't just explain autism, we provide techniques, tools, and resources so our first responders can make every encounter matter, and build safer communities.

   
   

3. What would you like to tell our audience about your organization? Our mission is to make every encounter matter, via equipping first responders with autism awareness response training.

4. What motivates you to support the autism community? The love for our sons, and support for our first responders.

5. What advice would you give to someone new to their autism journey?‍ ‍Have patience, your loved one is not defined by their disability. Focus on their abilities, even though they might have to work twice as hard as a neurotypical individual, remind them they will be twice as good.
   

6. Additional information you would like to share: We helped pass the Communication Accommodation law in Arizona. It is a voluntary option for individuals to opt in with the AZ Dept. of Transportation/MVD to allow a "Communication Accommodation" alert to be tied to their vehicle's registration, a driver's license, or non-operating ID card. This option is not only for the driver or registered owner of a vehicle, but also for occupants who routinely are transported in a vehicle (i.e. child, grand-child, or adult). This is not only for autism, this is also individuals with any disability (acquired, developmental, or degenerative). There is an option to add up to 500 characters about the individual's disability, communication preference, etc., and also a separate emergency contact option. There are instructions on how to enroll on our website in the "downloads" section.

   
   *This organization accepts donations AND has volunteer opportunities available!