AN autistic man traumatised by an encounter with the police has set up a scheme to help emergency personnel understand the condition better.

Aston Avery, 27, of Fairleigh Avenue, Bowers Gifford, and his parents Dawn and Keith, held an autism awareness day yesterday at Basildon Fire Station, inviting police officers, firefighters and paramedics to take part in training in partnership with the Anna Kennedy Online charity.

The programme involves special sensory buses.

Mr Avery, who is autistic and a keen awareness campaigner, came up with the training day to help educate staff and avoid similar problems to the ones he suffered.

Having run away from home, he was eventually found by police, however he became extremely distressed and overwhelmed by their appearance

Mr Avery, with support from his mother Dawn, contacted the police and received positive responses from Insp Steve Parry, part of Basildon’s neighbourhood policing team and fire station commander Darren Driscoll.

As a result they moved ahead with the day and more than a hundred emergency personnel attended.

Two modified autism awareness buses arrived to allow 67 Essex Police officers, more than 50 firefighters, and ambulance crews to take part in a sensory experience which shows how an autistic person would view a difficult situation such as an emergency.

Mrs Avery said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Aston for how he has turned something so negative into a brilliant opportunity.

“He was put through a traumatic experience simply because of a lack of awareness. When it comes to emergency situations, services having this training could save a life. We are thrilled with the response today and are excited to see what could be done in the future.”

Basildon mayor David Dadds attended to show his support for the event, and the family hope that the pilot training scheme – the first of its kind in the country – will be adopted across the nation.