Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter /
Chattanooga Autism Center Vice President Roddey Coe [cq] speaks with the Times Free Press during the 9th annual Chattanooga Autism Conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, April 20, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.Chattanooga’s police and fire departments partnered with the Chattanooga Autism Center to develop a registry for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities first responders can access.
Take Me Home is a free program provided by the Chattanooga Police Department that allows family members and legal guardians to file emergency contact information, a detailed physical description and a photo, saving valuable time if the person is found alone or reported missing.
“I have friends whose kids have disappeared, and this tool for law enforcement will allow them to see who they’re looking for,” said Roddey Coe, member of the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter /
Chattanooga Fire Department Capt. Skyler Phillips speaks with the Times Free Press during the 9th annual Chattanooga Autism Conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, April 20, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.“If officers approach someone on the street who may be unable to communicate because of autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s – anything that can take away somebody’s ability to speak or tell them where they may be – this will allow them to pull up a picture and take that person home instead of to a jail cell.”
Coe said this issue is dear to his heart because he has an 11-year-old son with autism, and he hopes this tool will allow officers to quickly gather important information on some of the people with whom they interact.