(WCIV) — A team of bipartisan state lawmakers is prioritizing autism education for all South Carolina first responders. A bill at the State House would require neurodiversity training for all police officers, firefighters and EMS. Rep. Kathy Landing is a vocal sponsor. She said the legisla tion is a crucial next step in making sure public safety serves all types of people. The first step, Landing says, was passed last year and dubbed ‘Rio’s Law.’ When Gov. Henry McMaster signed it into law, South Carolina became the first state in the nation to offer license plates specifically for autistic or neurodivergent drivers and passengers. “This identifier lets the officers, or the first responders know to turn off sirens, turn off lights, approach calmly. Someone in that vehicle is on the spectrum, so they know what they’re walking into,” said Layla Luna, founder of Just Bee. The law is nicknamed after Luna’s non-verbal, autistic son, Rio. Now, Luna and Landing hope a state-mandated course on approaching individuals with autism will take their efforts a step further. The course would teach officers some of the physical signs to look for in a neurodivergent person and ways to approach the situation without escalating it. “The reason I thought this needed to be at the state level rather than just local is because it’s universal. It affects so many families and so many individuals in our state,” Landing, a Republican from Charleston County, said. At the Charleston Police Department, more than 200 officers have already been taught de-escalation methods through Crisis Intervention Training. Senior Officer Malinda Fife said some people on the spectrum don’t like loud sirens or bright lights, while others may respond better to police speaking quietly. It’s an area Fife knows personally. “I have five-year-old twins who are both diagnosed with autism, and they’re totally different. That’s why I love that it’s a spectrum,” she said. Luna believes the bill would improve safety not only for autistic individuals but for first responders, too. Landing said training would be required likely through the Criminal Justice Academy and other organizations. It’s something Fife welcomes as she says the need only grows. “The number of children being diagnosed with autism is rising,” Fife said. “I think it’ll be imperative that we do get that extra training to be able to better assist those families and those individuals if there is a crisis.” The bill passed unanimously Tuesday in the State House Judiciary Committee. Landing said it could go to the House Floor for debate as early as Thursday. Categories: Local News, Politics, State Tags: South Carolina ...read more read less