Judges, attorneys and doctors in Thurston County are set to receive the same training that local police officers and firefighters have been getting on how to communicate with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Project SAFER (Special Assistance for Emergency Responders), run by Thurston County Public Health & Social Services, is broadening its reach beyond the 911 world after earning one of 30 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards the county received this year, according to a county press release issued June 23. The county announced the expansion in a program overview published Aug. 10.
The expansion matters in Olympia because communication differences between people with I/DD and emergency personnel can lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary involvement with the legal system. Training judges and attorneys aims to reduce those outcomes on the courtroom side.
What the program teaches
Project SAFER gives first responders practical strategies for recognizing communication preferences, understanding nonverbal behaviors and responding appropriately to individuals with a range of disabilities. The Olympia Police Department's Crisis Response Unit has volunteered to do home visits to people with I/DD as part of the program's outreach, learning about specific needs before an emergency occurs.
The program is free.
A new Disability Response Team is being formed through The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability under its Pathways to Justice initiative. The team will include first responders, self-advocates, doctors, attorneys and victim advocates who meet regularly, followed by a full-day training. Nationally, the Pathways to Justice program has reached more than 2,000 stakeholders in over a dozen states.
Free Ice Cream Social on Aug. 21
Residents can meet the program's partners at a free Ice Cream Social on Friday, Aug. 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Thurston County Public Health & Social Services, 412 Lilly Road NE, Olympia. Families and care providers can explore emergency vehicles, meet officers and firefighters in uniform and learn about emergency services in a low-pressure setting.
A second event, Trunk or Treat, is set for Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the same location. That event has grown from 12 to 15 decorated vehicles and about 100 attendees at its start to more than 30 trunks and 400 community members in 2025. Parking will not be available in the main lot; attendees can use neighboring business lots after hours or park along Ensign Road.
Budget context
Board of County Commissioners Chair Tye Menser said in the June 23 press release that the awards show staff "finding creative ways to stretch every taxpayer dollar further" amid state and county budget pressures.
The program also promotes Smart911, a free service that lets residents create a safety profile available to TCOMM 911 dispatchers when a call is placed from a registered phone. Profiles can include medical conditions, disabilities, communication needs and emergency contacts.
The Thurston Mason DD Coalition, a partner on the training, will host its 4th Annual South Sound DD Legislative Session on Oct. 20. No date has been announced for the Pathways to Justice full-day training in Thurston County.
