Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Officers from various organizations, including the Jonesboro Police Department, Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Restore Hub, University Police Department at Arkansas State University, and other community partners, are convening for a first-time training session from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, May 13.  

The training for the Blue Envelope Program (BEP), created by Act 16 in 2025 by the Arkansas State Legislature, will be held in the parking lot of First National Bank Arena.  

“The Blue Envelope provides drivers with a simple way to identify themselves to law enforcement and communicate that they may have communication or sensory differences that could impact the interaction,” said Emily Weston, assistant professor of communication disorders.  

The program is one that individuals apply for through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A blue envelope contains documents for both officers and the driver to ease communication, clear up confusion, and limit stress. 

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“Having the blue envelope helps by providing a non-verbal signal to law enforcement that the driver has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is intended to help the officers evaluate their communication with the driver, especially if they have any misconceptions that the driver was purposefully not communicating with the officer,” added Dr. Angelo Brown, assistant professor of criminology.  

“Things like delayed responses, avoiding eye contact, sensory overload, or repetitive movements can sometimes be misunderstood,” Weston added.  

For these reasons, this training session will help officers to better communicate with those who present a blue envelope at the time of a traffic stop.  

“During the event, autistic drivers will participate in simulated traffic stop scenarios with law enforcement officers. Drivers will have the opportunity to practice using the blue envelope and become more familiar with what to expect during a traffic stop in a safe, supportive, low-pressure environment,” Weston added.  

Brown added that the fact that this training is happening at A-State is significant.  

“Colleges often have an increased number of people with ASD than other areas. We also have resources, including various researchers and practitioners who work on this topic.”  

“Arkansas is the first southern state to implement this program statewide,” added Jonathan Taylor, executive director, Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. “It was the advocacy of people with disabilities that moved this bill along so quickly.”  

Those interested in learning more about the Blue Envelope Program can visit their local DMV or go to its website.

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