A new statewide report on the Blue Envelope Program highlights a clear finding: when communities lead, safety improves.
Inland Regional Center (IRC) and the Autism Society Inland Empire conducted hundreds of surveys, focus groups, case studies, and direct engagements. The data gathered helped show what works best to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing during interactions with law enforcement and first responders.
The research was supported by the Fontana Police Department, Ontario Police Department, American Medical Response, and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
What the Research Showed
The strongest message from the research is simple: this work only succeeds when communities are true partners. Individuals with disabilities, their families, cultural leaders, first responders, and advocates all helped shaped the San Bernardino model. Their input led to a program that is trusted, culturally responsive, and now widely is adopted by agencies throughout the region.
Other key findings:
- People do not want mandatory disability registries. They want tools that respect dignity, independence, and personal choice.
- Training matters. Consistent training was an important factor in improving outcomes.
- Visual tools help but training is essential. Items like lanyards, bracelets, and envelopes provide quick non-verbal cues that reduce misunderstandings, but true impact comes from scenario-based learning, disability awareness training, and trauma-informed approaches.
- Communication barriers are safety barriers. Spanish and ASL resources, offering translations for less common languages, and culturally respectful practices are critical.
Real-life case studies in the report highlight how quickly misunderstandings can escalate when communication breaks down. These examples underline why voluntary communication tools and strong training are essential.
Officers, families, and disability community members said the program works best when feedback is ongoing, materials are updated, and partners work together to improve it.
A small number of organizations and participants statewide also shared concerns about privacy and stigma.
The Blue Envelope Expands in the North Coast
While statewide interest is high, local adaptation is necessary. Communities differ in culture, language, demographics, and needs. The program needs to be flexible and adapted to each community, not used the same way everywhere.
In March 2025, the Fort Bragg Police Department in Mendocino County asked to partner with the Redwood Coast Regional Center (RCRC) in rolling out the program in their area. Their collaboration resulted in a Blue Envelope Kickoff event on June 3, 2025. Since then, RCRC has collaborated with several law enforcement agencies to bring the Blue Envelope program to the North Coast including the Rio Dell Police Department and Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office. The latest rollout in the area took place on November 19, in collaboration with the Eureka Police Department and included most Humboldt County jurisdictions.
During this process RCRC staff met with their IRC counterparts on several occasions to learn about best practices and lessons learned from IRC’s experiences collaborating with agencies in their area.