(COLORADO SPRINGS) — El Paso County has adopted the Blue Envelope Program to assist interactions between law enforcement officers and drivers with communication challenges.
The program uses a blue envelope to signal to officers that a driver may require extra time, patience, or accommodations during traffic stops. The program is designed to assist individuals with disabilities that may not be immediately visible, such as autism, dementia, and hearing or vision impairments.
“It helps give a voice for people with disabilities,” said someone who uses the envelope.
Sheriff Joe Roybal mentioned that the program includes vehicle stickers and wallet cards to help guide interactions.
“I think this will just help them, like remain calm and able to communicate with not only the driver but also the other passengers in the car,” said Scott Barlett, an advocacy specialist. “I think I realized that it’s better that the officer knows that a person has a disability straight off the bat to avoid any kind of misunderstandings or assumptions that may not be accurate.”
The Blue Envelope Program aims to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community they serve by providing a visual cue that a driver may need special accommodations. The envelope contains essential documents such as instructions, medical information, and reminders to facilitate smoother interactions between drivers and officers.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office provides information on its website on how to obtain a blue envelope, including pickup locations and a list of community and law enforcement partners using the program.
For law enforcement, the packet outlines communication skills like speaking calmly, using simple language, minimizing physical contact, and reducing background noise.
“When we get stopped, we get nervous and we don’t know what to do, so we get really just non-verbal. So it’ll help us in a long, long standing point,” said another person who uses the envelope.
Participants are encouraged to keep the blue envelope in their glove box or wallet for easy access during interactions with law enforcement.
The Blue Envelope Program in El Paso County is expected to help drivers with communication challenges have more effective and less stressful interactions with law enforcement officers.
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