FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
The Lebanon Police Department and the Special Needs Support Center (SNSC) announce the launch of a new Special Needs Registry, a program to help emergency responders identify and respond to vulnerable residents with special needs.
This is a voluntary program in which special needs community members of any age, or their family members, submit information such as triggers, special accommodations, emergency contacts and a photograph. The information is entered into a database in which Lebanon Police Officers and Dispatch Team have access. The registry is an expansion of an existing database which identifies community members who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“SNSC is proud to be assisting with the Special Needs Registry,” said Laura Perez, SNSC Executive Director. “In addition to the challenges facing any parent, parents with children with disabilities have additional concerns such as impaired communication, wandering, tendency to avoid eye contact, or other behaviors that can appear suspicious without prior knowledge. Our vision for this project is to support positive relationship development and improved interactions between emergency responders and community members with disabilities.”
“This project helps us achieve our mission to protect life and to assist the public-at-large in a manner consistent with the rights and dignity of all persons,” said Police Chief Richard Mello. “The Special Needs Registry will help usrapidly and safely respond in the event that a citizen with special needs requires assistance.”
To register for the Lebanon Special Needs Registry:
- Complete the simple form at this link https://snsc-uv.org/resources/#special-needs-registry;
- Call the Lebanon Police Department at 603-448-1212 and request an officer be dispatched to your residence to assist you in completing the form; or
- Call the Special Needs Support Center at 603-448-6311 and a team member will help you complete the form over the phone or in the office.
