Kensington Police Department launches Blue Envelope Program for inclusive, neurodiversity-aware policing

Part of growing statewide and national effort to help facilitate smoother interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder during traffic stops.

By Lt. Amit Nath, Kensington Police Department

The Kensington Police Department is launching its new Blue Envelope Program, a voluntary initiative designed to make traffic stops and other police contacts safer and less stressful for drivers with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, anxiety, dementia and other communication differences.

With the launch of this program, Kensington becomes one of the first police agencies in the Bay Area to offer a dedicated Blue Envelope option for drivers, joining a growing movement across California and the United States to better support neurodivergent community members during interactions with law enforcement.

The Blue Envelope is a clearly marked, bright blue envelope that participants keep in their vehicle. Inside, they can store their driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance, emergency contact information, and a brief description of their preferred communication style (for example, needing extra time to answer questions or preferring written instructions). During a traffic stop, drivers can hand the envelope to the officer s a quiet, respectful way to signal that they may need additional patience, clear language, or other accommodations.

“The Blue Envelope Program is about respect, understanding, and safety for everyone,” said Chief Mike Gancasz. “For some members of our community, a traffic stop can be overwhelming. This program gives drivers a simple tool to communicate their needs, and it gives our officers helpful guidance so they can respond with patience and compassion.”

Part of Growing Statewide & National Effort

Blue Envelope initiatives began on the East Coast, notably in Connecticut, and have since spread to multiple states, including Virginia, New York, Arkansas and others, where state agencies and local departments use the blue envelope as a standardized tool to support drivers with autism and similar conditions during police encounters.

In California, sheriff’s offices and police departments in communities such as San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Riverside County, Placer County, Sutter County, Ventura County, and several city departments have adopted Blue Envelope programs or similar models—often in partnership with regional centers and autism advocacy organizations.

Kensington’s program draws on these best practices while tailoring the materials and training to the unique needs of a small, community-focused police department.

National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities (NPS-AID) Supports the Blue Envelope Program

Supported by the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities, the “Blue Envelope Program” is an initiative that is not mandated, but adopted by many law enforcement agencies across the U.S., designed to help facilitate smoother interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during traffic stops.

The NPS-AID is a voluntary program designed to assist individuals with disabilities during emergencies by providing first responders with critical information.

Any time a disabled community partner joins the “National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals” program and resides in a NPS-AID supporting chapter jurisdiction where the “Blue Envelope Program” is in use, the oversight agency has the ability to quickly send notice via the NPS-AID system to the member which will provide the participant with information about the program and how to enroll. This notice will be delivered via email once the member completes their NPS-AID membership enrollment.

All agencies that adopt the “Blue Envelope Program” create thier own enrollment process and the exact steps can vary from agency to agency since there is no centralized program or support system for Blue Envelope. All supporting NPS-AID chapter agencies are provided special access to essential resources to help agencies create, launch, and manage their own “Blue Envelope Program”, such as envelope templates, draft policies and more, reducing the burden and simplifying the process.

How Residents Can Participate

• Cost: The program is free and completely voluntary.
• Privacy: No registration is required, and KPD does not collect or store medical information; all details remain with the driver and their family.
• Where to get an envelope:

o In person at the Kensington Police Department lobby located at 10940 San Pablo, El Cerrito, CA 94530

o From a uniformed Kensington Police Officer or Kensington Police Volunteer

o At community events and outreach activities throughout Kensington

Available Outreach Materials

The following items are available free of charge at the Kensington Police Department and other participating locations:

• Blue Envelope Program Brochure
• Blue Envelope
• Wallet Information Card
• Lanyards
• Seatbelt Covers
• Buttons
• Key Chains
• Wristbands
• Stickers

These materials help signal participation in the program and provide quick access to important information during a law enforcement interaction.

Residents can learn more about how the program works, download information, and see example materials by visiting: www.kppcsd.org/blue-envelope-program-kensington.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.