Blue Envelope Program Launches in Luzerne County

After introducing the Blue Envelope Program to Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health, will now expand the program aimed at helping communication between drivers with special needs and police officers to Luzerne County. The new program will start April 8.

Under the program, drivers carry a blue envelope in their vehicle. The front of the envelope notes the driver is on the autism spectrum and indicates if that person is verbal or nonverbal. It includes instructions for the driver on what they should do during a traffic stop. The back of the envelope has tips for police to help their interaction with the driver go as smoothly as possible. 

Inside that envelope is a sheet that explains the Blue Envelope Program and provides contact information for those who would be able to provide medical information or assistance in interacting with the driver if that becomes necessary. The sheet explains that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can impair the driver’s ability to communicate, that they may have difficulty understanding or responding to questions or display physical signs of being uncomfortable. 

Drivers in the program are instructed to let law enforcement know they have a blue envelope and to retrieve the envelope when asked by police. It’s recommended ASD and other drivers with special needs keep copies of their driver’s license, registration and insurance information in the blue envelope along with the information sheet that contains the emergency contacts.

Pediatrician Jill Colabroy, MD, with Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) Pediatrics, said the program helps police officers and drivers establish immediate communication that can help create a better experience for all involved. 

“Much like patients sometimes feel anxious about going to the doctor, getting pulled over by a police officer can be nerve-wracking, especially for someone with autism,” Dr. Colabroy said. “By having open, honest and meaningful conversation with our patients, we can often alleviate some of that angst. This tool helps both police and drivers have a starting point for effective communication, reducing worry and fear and increasing awareness, which is a win-win for everyone.”

“If even one Blue Envelope helps create a calmer, more positive interaction between a law enforcement officer and a driver with autism, then the program is doing exactly what it was designed to do,” said Josh Houck, Director of Emergency Preparedness, Jefferson Health–Lehigh Valley Region.

Blue envelopes can be obtained in several ways: from police departments in Luzerne, Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, at Pocono Raceway, LVPG Family Medicine, LVPG Pediatrics and LVPG Internal Medicine offices, or by requesting one at LVHN.org/blueenvelope, where a full list of participating organizations is listed. The patient and family information page inside the envelope is available in English and Spanish.