Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (12/13/2019 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTIONAL ORDER
Subject: PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Index as: American Sign Language Disability
Asperger’s Syndrome Hearing Impaired
Autism Interpreters for Hearing Impaired
Autism Spectrum Disorder Professional
Auxiliary Aids and Services Qualified Interpreter
Certified Interpreter Reasonable Accommodation
Deaf Persons Service Animal
Developmentally Disabled TDD/TTY
Disabled Persons Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD/TTY)
Accreditation Standards: 71.3.2, 81.2.1 and CFA 15.18
Cross Reference: G.O. III -10, Transporting and Booking Prisoners
Legal Notice 2017 -008, Interviews with people with autism or an autism spectrum disorder
§393.063(3), §413.08(1)(d), §627.6686(2)(b), §641.31098(2), §901.215, §901.245 and
§925.245, §943.043 9, §943.1727, F.S.S.
Americans With Disabili ties Act of 1990, (Title II)
Replaces : I.O. V.5:16, Providing Services to People with Disabilities (March 12, 2019 )
This Order consists of the following sections:
I. Purpose
II. Policy
III. Definitions
IV. Specific Disabilities
V. Effective Communications
VI. Procedures
VII. Report Requirements
I. PURPOSE
This Order establishes guidelines for providing equitable services to people with disabilities and seeks to increase the
awareness level of employees regarding the identification of disabled persons. For the purposes of this Order , disabled
persons may be complainants, victims, witnesses, arrestees, people seeking information, uninvolved bystanders or
members of the community who desire to participate in Department -sponsored programs, services or activities.
II. POLICY
It is the policy of the St. Petersburg Police Department to ensure the delivery of quality services to all members of the
community, including people who may require special consideration due to a disability which may impair major life activities.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
April 2016 Immediately V.5:16
Distribution: All Employees
Instructional Order V.5:16
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (12/13/2019 ) III. DEFINI TIONS
A. American Sign Language – A complete, complex language that employs signs made with the hands and other
movements, including facial expressions and postures of the body.
B. Autism – a pervasive, neurologically based developmental disability of extended duration which causes severe
learning, communication, and behavior disorders with age of onset during infancy or childhood. Individuals with autism
exhibit impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment in verbal and nonverbal communication and i maginative
ability, and a markedly restricted repertoire of activities and interests. §393.063(3), F.S.S.
C. Autism Spectrum Disorder – is any of the following disorders as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association:
1. Autistic disorder;
2. Asperger’s syndrome; and
3. Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, §627.6686(2)(b) and §641.31098(2), F.S.S.
D. Auxiliary Aids and Services – Any service, aid or equipment used to accommodate or assist in the accommodation
of a disabled person, to include:
1. Qualified interpreters, note -takers, transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers,
assistive listening systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning,
telecommunication devices for deaf persons (TDD/TTY's), videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally
delivered materials av ailable to individuals with hearing impairments;
2. Qualified readers, taped texts, audio recordings, Braille materials, large print materials, or other effective
methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals with visual impairments ;
3. Acquisi tion or modification of equipment, computers, or devices; and
4. Other similar services and actions.
E. Certified Interpreter – A qualified interpreter certified by the National or Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
F. Disability – A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an
individual.
G. Major Life Activities – Activities which may include: walking, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, seeing,
hearing, learning, caring for oneself and working.
H. Non-Qualified Interpreter – An interpreter for the deaf not certified by the National or Florida Registry of Interpreters
for the Deaf.
I. Professional – is defined as psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health counselor, special education instructor, clinical
social worker, or related professional. The professional must have experience treati ng, teaching, or assisting patients or
clients who have been diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder or related developmental disability or must
be certified in special education with a concentration focused on persons with autism or an autism spectrum disorder.
§943.043, F.S.S.
J. Qualified Interpreter – A qualified sign language or oral interpreter who is able to effectively, accurately, and
impartially interpret, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. Ac cordingly, an
interpreter must be able