MI-SNAP: Michigan Special Needs Awareness Program
The Michigan Special Needs Awareness Program, MI-SNAP, was designed to provide important information to emergency response teams across multiple departments regarding individuals with special needs. When 911 is called, it is essential that EMS, fire and police agencies have all vital information about individuals with special needs who live where an emergency has happened. These special needs include cognitive as well as physical disabilities such as the inability to speak, walk or understand commands in an emergency situation. In order to ensure the safety of both our first responders and people within our community, it’s imperative we share information. For instance, a 6′ tall, 300 lb man not following police commands may be perceived as threat or danger to police responding to an emergency; however the man may be non-verbal and on the Autism spectrum, having no understanding of the instructions. If the officers involved were aware of this person with special needs prior to arriving at the emergency site, it would change their response to the situation. This simple sharing of information could greatly increase the safety of everyone involved.
If you would like emergency responders to be notified that someone with special needs lives in your home, please fill out the form. You may fill out this form for yourself or for another, provided you are their parent or guardian. Our database will be distributed weekly to DOWNRIVER emergency response teams. Please understand, filling out this form does not mean that emergency response databases are updated immediately. Also, filling out this form should not be considered a guarantee of safety nor should anyone assume first responders already know of a person with special needs in a home.
As part of this program we ask that you agree to place our identifying decals on the bedroom window, front door and any vehicle the individual may utilize. Once your registration is complete we will mail you the packet containing the decals.