LOUISVILLE, Ky. — People with communication disorders can have a special code added to their vehicle registration.

If someone with the code gets pulled over, it will inform law enforcement of possible communication barriers before they approach the car.

What You Need To Know

  • A law was enacted earlier this year to allow for people to get a Communication Disorder Designation on their vehicle registration

  • The designation informs law enforcement a driver they've pulled over has a possible communication barrier 

  • The Kentucky Autism Training Center is trying to raise awareness about the designation so people can add it to their vehicle registration

  • Nearly 700 Kentuckians have added this designation to their registration to date, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

The Communication Disorder Designation is a law that was enacted earlier this year. While it’s not required for people who have communication disorders to get the code on their vehicle registration, it's encouraged.

Nearly 700 Kentuckians have added this designation to their registration to date, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The Kentucky Autism Training Center is trying to push information about the communication barrier code out to make more people aware.

“This information is going to be connected to an individual’s vehicle registration so when the license plate is ran … an individual’s information would then populate to the peace officer,” said Heidi Cooley-Cook, the center’s assistant director.

This helps ensure law enforcement is better prepared to handle a driver who may have a communication disorder. Cooley-Cook said other communication tools can be used.

“Having that information handy to the peace officer before they even approach the vehicle could be hugely helpful,” Cooley-Cook said.

Lindsay Eubanks, a family and community field training coordinator with the center, has a 17-year-old daughter with Level 1 autism. This means she has low support needs, and communicating with others can be a challenge.

“When she gets flustered, she ... can’t find her words so you can imagine in a stressful situation,” Eubanks said.

Eubanks said she's glad the Communication Disorder Designation is available for her daughter in case she gets pulled over when she eventually gets her license. 

“Sometimes she really has a hard time finding open-ended questions, like who, what, when, where, how,” Eubanks said. “She might be able to answer a 'yes' or 'no' question in those situations, but it can be nice if the adult or the first responder that’s coming knows to look for that.”

This is not only for those with autism, but anyone who has a communication barrier, such as those who may be deaf or hard of hearing. 

The Kentucky Autism Training Center and the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have created visor communication cards for drivers to use when they get pulled over. Those interested in getting the code added to their own vehicle registration should ask their local county clerk's office.

Cooley-Cook also encouraged people to look into the Yellow Dot Program, a packet that comes with a decal sticker and a brochure to fill out medical information used in emergency situations. When first responders see the decal on a car, they can find the informational brochure in that person’s glove compartment. A brochure can be filled out for both drivers and passengers.

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