Blue Envelope Program
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association have launched a Blue Envelope Program to help special needs drivers and law enforcement better connect when they interact.
The Blue Envelope Program is primarily aimed at drivers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and also can apply to those with other communication difficulties, anxiety or conditions that might hurt their ability to communicate during a traffic stop, accident or other interactions with police.
In the Blue Envelope Program, drivers carry a Blue Envelope in their vehicle. The front of the envelope notes they are on the autism spectrum and indicates if they are verbal or nonverbal. It includes instructions for the driver on what they should do during a traffic stop. The back of the Blue 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 ASD can impair the driver’s ability to communicate, that they may have difficulty understanding or responding to questions, or that they might 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 that ASD and other special needs drivers keep their driver’s license, registration and insurance information in the Blue Envelope along with the information sheet that contains the emergency contacts.
Where to get a Blue Envelope
Blue Envelopes are available at Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) Pediatrics offices and from police departments in Lehigh County. You can also request an envelope using the form below.