LEFT: A police officer gets hands-on at one of Zoltownski’s training sessions. RIGHT: More than 1,200 first responders have completed her training
Helping to Serve and Protect JCC staffer trains first responders to better serve special needs population. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
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n a daily basis, Stephanie Zoltowski is the special needs director at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, helping those with autism and other developmental and learning disabilities. That passion, though, doesn’t end with that role. Zoltowski has put her background in those areas to use for the past two years, starting a business that helps train first responders (police, fire departments, emergency medical services personnel and dispatchers) with strategies for situations in which they encounter the special needs population. In just the past year with her business, Spectrum Training Solutions LLC, Zoltowski has trained about 20 departments and 1,200 personnel in Michigan. Zoltowski has worked with the special needs population for almost 20 years and is also a psychologist and former member of the military police. It was during her time as a military police officer that she learned firsthand how vulnerable the special needs population is and how important it is for them to get comfortable with first responders and vice versa. “Both of these populations are really important to me, and I realized there’s such a disconnect between them and there wasn’t really a bridge between them,” Zoltowski said. “So I thought it was a good
opportunity to take my background and population because they learn differently experience and education and connect the and process information differently than two.” neurotypical people do,” Zoltowksi said. The first department Zoltowski worked “By having these, they’re able to address the with was the West Bloomfield Police needs and challenges of the special needs Department. After that session was well population and maximize the effectiveness received, her services spread via word of that interaction with them.” of mouth to other departments across Zoltwoski is seeing a cultural shift in how Michigan. Over the last six months or so, police officers are approaching situations Zoltowski has been invited with somebody that has special to speak at some conferences needs, a change close to her about her work. heart being so close to both Zoltowski’s training sessions populations. with the departments typically “Autism is the fastest growing last four hours. developmental disability in the “One of the things we talk United States. It’s diagnosed in about are myths vs. facts when one in 44 kids now. So this popit comes to special needs,” she ulation is expanding in our socisaid. “We go over how to com- Stephanie Zoltowski ety, and it’s important officers municate with them effectively, some of get this training so they’re fully prepared the red flags and behaviors to look for, and and know what to expect and look for some techniques when it comes to working when they respond to a call from someone with the non-verbal population.” who has special needs,” she said. Of the departments Zoltowski has been Zoltowski feels good being able to train working with, a lot of them are starting to the first responders, especially with many incorporate sensory bags equipped with reaching out afterwards informing her of tools to help first responder personnel situations where the training was helpful to when they respond to someone with special them. needs. The bags contain items designed to “Knowing they feel safer and more conhelp calm the individuals by providing a fident responding to calls is really importsense of comfort. ant to me,” Zoltowski said. “And it’s nice “Departments are having these in their to see the special needs population being patrol cars, and officers are starting to carry approached in the respectful way they more tools and activities beneficial for this deserve.” APRIL 21 • 2022
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