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Hollis Police Department to Sell Limited Edition Patches for Autism Awareness Month

Beginning April 1, 2021 (Limited Numbers Available)
Posted on: March 30, 2021 - 10:30am
Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month which spreads awareness and promotes acceptance of children and adults who are diagnosed with autism. To help spread information and to support those living with autism, the Hollis Police Department is selling limited edition HPD patches. The puzzle pattern on the patch reflects the complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the individuals, and families, living with the condition. Community outreach is an important part of policing, and the patch is a great tool to help raise community awareness. Hollis police officers have been authorized to wear the patches on their uniforms over the course of the month to help promote awareness of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.

Did you Know?

  • In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to 2016 data.
  • 1 in 34 boys identified with autism.
  • 1 in 144 girls identified with autism.
  • Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
  • There is no medical detection for autism.
  • An estimated 40 percent of people with autism are nonverbal.
  • Nearly half of those with autism wander or bolt from safety.  
  • Nearly two-thirds of children with autism between the ages of 6 and 15 have been bullied.
  • Drowning remains a leading cause of death for children with autism and accounts for approximately 90 percent of deaths associated with wandering or bolting by those age 14 and younger.
  • Over the next decade, an estimated 707,000 to 1,116,000 teens (70,700 to 111,600 each year) will enter adulthood and age out of school-based autism services.

For more information- https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-statistics-asd

Those in the community interested, can purchase these patches for $10 through Hollis Police Department Administrative Assistant, Karen Lawton at klawton@hollisnh.org.  Please be advised that we have a limited number of patches and they are on a first-come first-served basis.

All proceeds from the sale of our Autism Awareness Patches will benefit a non-profit organization within the autism community.

Autism Patch