Special Needs Registry / Take Me Home

Special Needs Registry

The Montgomery County Public Safety Department works in partnership with Bucks and Chester counties to encourage patrons to sign up for a Special Needs Registry. This program is free, voluntary and strictly confidential. It is designed to help those who would have difficulty evacuating during a crisis because of physical or cognitive limitations, language barriers or due to a lack of transportation. Individuals (or their caregivers) are encouraged to register electronically, if possible, by going online to use www.readymontco.org. Paper registration forms are also available by writing or calling:

Montgomery County
Department of Public Safety
50 Eagleville Road
Eagleville, PA 19403
(610) 631-6500

Take Me Home Program

The Springfield Township Police Department, in conjunction with the Abington, Cheltenham, and Whitemarsh Township Police Departments, is proud to introduce the Take Me Home Program for families of individuals who may not be able to communicate with a law enforcement officer because of various physical and/or cognitive conditions (i.e., Autism, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, etc.). Many of us at the Springfield Township Police Department have experienced these challenges firsthand in our years of service, and we know how crucial it is for law enforcement officers to have immediate access to personal background information during an emergency. Time is of the essence, and this background information will help our officers to make informed decisions on how to peacefully intervene to avoid those actions that will likely trigger fear, anxiety, or even a violent response. Please take a moment to register your loved one today, so you can help us help them. Once registered, officers can search a secure database for information specific to the person to include physical description, photographs, medical conditions, home address, and a list of persons to contact in the event of an emergency. To register for the Take Me Home Program click the link below. For additional information, please contact Lieutenant Rebecca Mersky at 215-836-1601 x1202 or at rmersky@springfieldpd.org.

Blue Envelope Program

The purpose of the Blue Envelope Program is to help vehicle drivers who have conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), communications challenges, dementia, anxiety or other conditions that might impair their ability to communicate easily during a traffic stop, car accident or other on-the-road interactions with police officers. The program also raises awareness among police regarding this population of drivers and the kind of driver reactions they may observe during a traffic stop. When the officer approaches the vehicle during a traffic stop, the driver is instructed to inform the police officer that they have a Blue Envelope and then hand the officer the envelope. Inside the blue envelope, the driver is instructed to place a copy of their driver’s license, automobile registration and proof of auto insurance along with a form that includes information about the driver’s special needs and a contact person, if necessary, to assist with the interaction.

The exterior of the Blue Envelope indicates whether the driver is verbal or non-verbal and instructs the driver to inform a police officer that they have a Blue Envelope when the officer approaches the vehicle.

Instructions for the driver include:

Keep your hands on the steering wheel unless otherwise directed;
The officer may shine a flashlight in your car;
When asked for your vehicle/driver documents, hand the officer this envelope.

Information printed on the envelope for police officers includes:

Driver may show signs of anxiety due to bright lights and noises;
Driver may have difficulty communicating and may not maintain eye contact;
Clearly tell the driver when the stop is over and that they can leave.

The special Blue Envelopes are available for free to all residents at Springfield Township Police Department.

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