A new Kenosha Police Department program is aiming to make emergency responses safer and more compassionate for people with special needs.Its called the SAFER program and it lets dispatchers and officers know ahead of time if som eone with special needs is involved in a 911 call. That alert comes with important context, like the persons diagnosis, known triggers and calming strategies that could help police de-escalate the situation.For local mom Autumn Thomas, this program means more than just policy.Theyre humans like us at the end of the day, [my son] Jaxson is human like us, he just operates differently, Thomas said.Autumns son has autism and like many, his behavior can be misunderstood. Loud sirens or sudden movements could overwhelm him, turning a standard response into something dangerous. Its like, my son could be more comfortable with police," Thomas said. "Maybe they turn off the sirens, because that could trigger them."Officer Cochran with KPD said that the SAFER alert is designed to help officers meet families where theyre at, with empathy and preparation.If we can know that information before we get there, we can potentially de-escalate that situation and make it a safe outcome for everybody," Cochran said. "Thats ultimately our goal. For Brandy Miller, another Kenosha mom of a child with special needs, this program feels personal. Years ago, she said, her son was at the wrong end of a police officers weapon during a call where officers didnt know about his condition.Had something like this been implemented at that time, officers wouldnt have shown up with guns drawn, Miller said. Its another tool, its a resource.She believes this kind of program can prevent children from becoming another statistic.Absolutely instrumental in helping make sure theyre successful moving forward and not end up just another number in the system, Miller said.Parents can opt in to the SAFER program voluntarily by working with the Kenosha Police Department. For families like Autumns and Brandys, its one more way to make sure their children are seen and safe.Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip ...read more read less