Spartanburg, SC: School cops trained to deal with ASD

Aug 8, 2017, Spartanburg (SC) Herald Journal: District 2 resource officers train to better handle students with autism http://www.goupstate.com/news/20170808/district-2-resource-officers-train-to-better-handle-students-with-autism Nine days before the start of the school year, a group of Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies went to class for a unique training session. The seven deputies, all of whom are school resource officers in Spartanburg District 2, spent Tuesday morning learning more about autism spectrum disorders and how to better handle students who have them. ... “They could physically attack you. They could go for your gun. They could do what any typical person could do,” Ergle said. “I don’t want you to do anything that jeopardizes you, I just want you to know how to handle things so you don’t put yourself in that situation.” Fran Matta, District 2 special services director, said the district has seen “a steady increase” in the number of students with autism spectrum disorders, with about 60 students in the district currently diagnosed with an ASD condition. …