Rockville Centre police become sensory-inclusive

The Rockville Centre Police Department is the first agency in the state to become certified sensory-inclusive by KultureCity, a Birmingham, Alabama-based nonprofit organization that promotes inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities.

Through its program, KultureCity trains officers to become better equipped to address the one in four people diagnosed with an invisible disability, such as autism, dementia, PTSD, ADHD and traumatic brain injury, to name just a few.

The village board announced plans to introduce the certification program in June. Since then, all 58 sworn officers with the Rockville Centre Police Department have completed the course to be better prepared, accepting, and inclusive of everyone’s needs.

“This vital training enhances the day-to-day interactions with individuals who have sensory needs or invisible disabilities,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement, last week, following a press conference outside police headquarters. “Thanks to the partnership with KultureCity, our officers are equipped with the tools to respond with compassion and the necessary skills to make a positive impact.”

The certification process provided local law enforcement with training from lead medical and neurodivergent professionals on how to recognize community members with sensory needs and how to manage a sensory overload situation.

KultureCity’s training instills understanding, acceptance, and empathy towards those who have sensory needs and invisible disabilities with the goal of improving future interactions between law enforcement and the community to create the best outcomes.

Sean Culkin, a lifelong Rockville Centre resident, said that he was only two years old when he was diagnosed on the autism spectrum. He shared how his doctors at the time told his family that he would never be able to speak or enjoy a quality of life.

“They told my family that I would never have a community. That the burden of responsibility for my disability was going to be placed on the shoulders of me and the people that I love, and it was up to us to determine how we were going to move forward in the world,” Culkin said. “That is a sentiment that really stuck with me and my family.”

Culkin, 30, is an ambassador and board member with KultureCity. He has been an advocate for the New York State Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board, where he reviewed and refined policy suggestions pertaining to individuals with autism.

To help introduce the program, he sought the support of Tony and Mary Lou Cancellieri, the co-founders of RVC Blue Speaks, who arranged a meeting with Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley to discuss implementing the training program, beginning with his hometown.

RVC Blue Speaks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping raise money for local families affected by autism, provided the necessary funds for the program.

“One of the best parts of living in a community like Rockville Centre is having a government small enough to respond in a timely manner to the needs of our fellow neighbors that will make a positive difference for years to come,” Baxley said during the press conference. “Our police department was not just receptive to the training, but they were fully on board to learn new techniques to better serve our community and be more inclusive for all.”

Culkin, with the support of the deputy mayor and the Cancellieri’s, met with Police Commissioner Randy Dodd, Inspector Christopher Romance, Training Sgt. Peter Pellegrino, and Village Administrator Nancy Howard, to discuss what the certification program entails.

“This certification is not just a badge of honor, it’s a testament to our dedication to the well-being of all of our residents in Rockville Centre. It allows our officers to improve the interactions we have with our most vulnerable,” Dodd said.

In addition to this invaluable training, each patrol vehicle is now equipped with a sensory bag provided by KultureCity, which includes various tools including a “feelings thermometer” designed for people who are nonverbal or may have difficulty speaking in a stressful situation. This tool is used to help gauge someone’s emotional state and provides cues intended to help bridge the communication gap in an emergency. The sensory bags include fidget tools to help individuals de-stress and calm down during high-stress situations, and noise-dampening headphones, which tune out ambient noise, while still allowing the wearer to communicate in an emergency.

“What this means for me as a member of the community is (something) I cannot put it into words,” Culkin said. “It’s an honor to call Mayor Murray Kathy Baxley, the Cancellieri’s, Sergeant Pellegrino, and everybody with the Rockville Centre Police Department an ally and an advocate for those with disabilities, and hopefully, what we do here today will resonate with the rest of New York State as we continue to roll out this sort of inclusive program to help those like me.”

KultureCity has been at the forefront of the inclusivity movement for the past decade, actively collaborating with communities, small businesses, organizations, and influential figures to promote awareness and understanding of invisible disabilities. The organization awarded sensory inclusive certification to more than 1,800 venues across the United States — including Citi Field and Madison Square Garden — and through its First Responder Training program has helped save the lives of 48 individuals.

Uma Srivastava, the executive director of KultureCity, said in a statement that by “empowering communities through inclusion and innovation, the Village of Rockville Centre is aligned with the same visionary spirit as KultureCity and is championing a world where every individual, regardless of ability, is not just accepted by celebrated for their unique contributions to the tapestry of humanity.”

To learn about KultureCity and the different programs it provides, visit KultureCity.org, for more information.