UM-Flint's Officer Friendly Day, April 26, offers virtual reality experiences for the autistic community

Suppose you're approached by police officers while walking down the street late at night. How do you respond in a way that helps the interaction go smoothly?

While this type of encounter can be stressful, many of us have a general sense of what to do: respond when spoken to, answer questions clearly, and do not run away.

For neurodiverse individuals, however, communication and sensory differences can make these interactions more complex. That's where events like the University of Michigan-Flint's Officer Friendly Day come in—they create opportunities for autistic individuals and police officers to learn from each other, build understanding, and foster mutual respect.

The Fourth Annual Officer Friendly Day will take place at the William S. White Parking Lot S, at the corner of Saginaw St. and 5th Ave, across the street from the Family Dollar at 877 E. 5th Ave, 1-3 p.m., April 26.

"Each year, we try to add a new element to Officer Friendly Day so that it continues to be a meaningful resource for the community and attendees can get something new out of it year after year," said Melissa Sreckovic, associate professor of education. "One of our most popular experiences is the simulated traffic stops, and even though it is just a simulation, sometimes our community members aren't ready for that kind of interaction. So, we added a virtual reality component this year using Floreo's educational software, which was designed explicitly for neurodiverse learners."

Floreo's founder, Vijay Ravindran, was inspired to build the new medium for teaching and therapy after seeing his child thrive in response to virtual reality experiences. According to Denise Garcia, general counsel for Floreo, the modules available at Officer Friendly Day were inspired by real news stories about interactions between law enforcement and autistic individuals. 

"All of our lessons are delivered in bite-sized modules that build on each other and range from training a young learner's attention to developing social skills to practicing how to interact in high-stress situations like engaging with police officers," said Garcia. "We knew we could create a virtual reality experience that would provide a safe space to practice these experiences in advance and to empower autistic people while they are out in the community."

Supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Floreo developed modules that coach learners through various safety-oriented activities such as crossing streets and engaging with police officers.

"With the crosswalk modules, for example, we begin with simple stimuli such as watching for the street signs to change, and then we progressively add more complexity such as jaywalkers or cars running a red light," Garcia said. "For the police officer modules, we worked with local law enforcement here in Maryland to ensure we used the correct language and real-world examples of how the officers might interact with the public. We also collaborated with the Philadelphia Police Department to study Floreo's effectiveness. Participants answered questions from police officers before the study, and then they either went through Floreo's modules or watched a video featuring a story on staying safe with police. Afterward, we asked the participants the same questions and saw a noticeable improvement in those who experienced Floreo over those who had simply watched the video."

In addition to Floreo's virtual reality experience, Officer Friendly Day will offer simulated traffic stops, police vehicle tours and other fun activities such as story time with an officer, lawn games, drawing, board and card games, building blocks, crafts, and free pizza. 

"Officer Friendly Day lets us gain familiarity with people on the spectrum, build relationships, and learn how they react in different situations. You must be able to effectively read people in this job, so understanding how their behavioral cues might differ makes my job much easier," said Jacob Wright, a police officer with UM-Flint's Department of Public Safety.

"Officer Friendly Day is integral to UM-Flint DPS' commitment to problem-oriented policing and fostering positive community relationships," said Sreckovic. "During the event, law enforcement officers and autistic individuals engage in meaningful interactions, promoting understanding, inclusivity and mutual respect. Through interactive activities and open dialogue, the event helps bridge gaps, build rapport and equip officers and autistic individuals with the knowledge and skills to interact safely and confidently in their communities."

For more information about Officer Friendly Day and to RSVP, please visit go.umflint.edu/OfficerFriendlyDay2025.