Some law enforcement officers and first responders in our area now have a better understanding of how to identify autism and how to help those who have it. It’s all thanks to the efforts of one Marshfield man. Harry Dolan may not be a professional when it comes to speaking about autism awareness, but he does have first-hand experience. His 25-year-old son, Matthew, has a severe form of autism.
Since 2004, Dolan has been sharing his experiences with police and fire departments throughout the state of Wisconsin, helping educate first responders on how to interact with autistic individuals who may not be able to respond to generic commands. His first training session was at the Marshfield Police Department.