Sawchenko and Alisha Fletcher, director of the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism, pose for a photo with two first responders who participated in a training.

Charles Sawchenko and Alisha Fletcher of the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism, housed in the College of Education and Human Development’s Center for Disabilities Studies, with two first responders who participated in recent training.

Exceptional trauma-informed care

Article by Jessica Henderson Photos courtesy of the Center for Disabilities Studies and Alisha Fletcher October 02, 2024

UD’s Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism receives high honors from the state of Delaware

In November 2023, a 32-year-old man with autism was visiting his brother in Delaware. During a visit to Lowes with his brother, the man had trouble leaving the lightbulb section of the store, which had captivated his interest. Recognizing the rising distress in his autistic brother, he called 911 for assistance and several state troopers responded. One of the officers—who had received training from Charles Sawchenko of the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism—effectively used techniques to support autistic individuals during times of stress or crisis. After 30 minutes of empathetic support, the officers were able to help the brothers safely leave the store together.

University of Delaware’s Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA), funded by Delaware Health and Social Services and housed in the College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), is Delaware’s statewide training and technical assistance center for autistic individuals, their families and the professionals who support them. Since 2016, DNEA has supported thousands of Delaware families and professionals, often partnering with organizations like Autism Delaware and Nemours Children’s Hospital. DNEA’s first responder training program recently received the 2024 Compassionate Champion Award from the Delaware Family Services Cabinet Council, Trauma Matters Delaware and the Office of Governor Carney.

“The largest part of our work is working closely with professionals across all disciplines, which includes everyone from childcare providers to mental health professionals to doctors and first responders,” said Sarah Mallory, CEHD assistant professor, director of the CDS Health and Wellness Unit and DNEA principal investigator. “We’ve even worked with museum staff, who wanted to make their spaces more inclusive for autistic individuals. We like to say that if you’re likely to interact with a person with autism in your professional career, we will support you in using evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming practices.”

Charles Sawchenko of the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism, housed in the College of Education and Human Development’s Center for Disabilities Studies, leads a training for first responders.

DNEA’s first responder program

DNEA’s first responder training program is led by Alisha Fletcher, a licensed clinical social worker and director of the DNEA in CDS, and Sawchenko, a DNEA training coach. Fletcher first met Sawchenko, a former social worker and retired Delaware State trooper, through her work for CDS and immediately recognized his passion for educating his colleagues about individuals with disabilities.

Together, they began developing the comprehensive training program, which educates participants about autism, provides compassionate strategies for supporting autistic individuals during a crisis and includes video scenarios that allow participants to discuss new approaches and skills. For example, Fletcher and Sawchenko often provide handheld manipulatives (sometimes called “fidgets”) that can help calm an autistic individual when they feel overstimulated or overwhelmed.

“When we do a training, I always introduce my daughter, who is 17 now and a non-speaking autistic person,” Sawchenko said. “[The participants] don’t know what it means to be a non-speaking autistic person or what stimming or self-soothing behaviors are. And it’s important to give the family perspective. The parents [of autistic individuals] have been through so many challenges—sleep disturbances, food issues and more. If you judge them and think “These are just bad parents,” you lose, right away. But, if you’re in a situation and you win the hearts and minds of the family members, you can [do your work more successfully] because the family members know that you understand and you’re empathetic.”

New this July, the DNEA has also launched a driving program that allows autistic drivers and passengers to practice live traffic stops with Delaware police officers.

“We’re giving autistic drivers and passengers the opportunity to interact with police officers in a safe and friendly environment,” Fletcher said. “They can participate in a mock driving situation where they’ll be pulled over and can practice using different resources we provide, whether that’s a video model or one of our written guides.”

DNEA’s impact across Delaware

The DNEA’s impact across Delaware is broad and deep. During the 2024 fiscal year alone, the network served 14,056 Delaware professionals and families, which represented a nearly 40% increase in their activities since 2023. Across all programs, the DNEA provided training to 2,284 participants and disseminated professional development resources to 9,316 individuals.

Since November 2022, DNEA’s first responder program has trained more than 300 Delaware firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel from more than 55 Delaware agencies and departments. Six additional trainings are scheduled for the fall of 2024.

“I think one of the things that really sets the DNEA apart is that we exemplify research to practice,” Mallory said. “Across all of our programs, we translate evidence-based practices for different audiences. We are an interdisciplinary team, and we’re all coming from different backgrounds in which we have professional expertise.”

Exceptional trauma-informed care

Sawchenko and Fletcher accepted Delaware’s Compassionate Champion Award at a May 2024 award ceremony.

In May 2024, Mallory, Fletcher and Sawchenko accepted Delaware’s Compassionate Champion Award in the first responder category. Zainab Shah, assistant director of victim advocacy in UD’s Division of Student Life, also won the 2024 Compassionate Champion Award in the education category. These awards recognize exceptional trauma-informed care provided by individuals and organizations in Delaware.

Delaware’s Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed care includes creating respectful, sensitive and culturally competent environments, implementing evidence-based trauma-informed principles and practices, enhancing communication in trauma-informed care and increasing the effectiveness and responsiveness of all services provided to Delawareans, especially children and adults who have experienced traumatic circumstances.

To learn more about the DNEA and its services, visit its website.