Sensory bags help first responders working with people with disabilities.
WHEATON, Md. – The Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division, and the Montgomery Parks’ Program Access Office are working together to equip officers with sensory bags. Each bag offers calming tools for individuals dealing with extreme stress that will allow officers to connect with an individual who may have a disability or a mental health issue, helping to de-escalate a stressful situation.
The sensory bags serve as a medium between an officer and an individual who may be verbal or non-verbal, distressed, or overstimulated. The bags were previously distributed to the Search and Rescue team and K-9 units for use as a tool for first responders. Sensory tools have been used across many different settings to stimulate the senses, calm an individual, or allow a person to concentrate. During a crisis, individuals may not understand everything that is happening, especially when a first responder arrives at the scene. Mixed with fear, curiosity, or heightened anxiety, individuals may not be able to respond appropriately to directions or understand that someone is there to help them.
“The Park Police is proud to partner with the Program Access Team in this collaborative initiative,” said Darryl McSwain, Chief of Police, Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division. “The sensory bags will provide our patrol and Search & Rescue team members with items that can help them calm stressed persons of different cognitive abilities/neurodiversity. Our goal is to always foster positive interactions with all patrons of our park system. To ensure our efforts are productive, it is important that we continue to educate ourselves on best practices from various disciplines for maximum effectiveness. Our motto is Stronger Together – this partnership exemplifies that.”
An additional 25 bags will be dispersed on April 20 to Park Police patrol officers, along with training on how and when to use them, to make meaningful connections with the community. Bags include, among other items, whiteboards, noise-blocking headphones, puzzle balls, Slinky™ toys, finger traps, sensory bean pods, Rubik’s Cubes™, stress balls, pop’em balls, and Tangles™.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 421 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org.
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/access for more information.
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