AutismBC responds as neurodivergent Surrey teen killed by police

A non-profit advocacy group is calling for increased education and training for emergency service personnel as it says the shooting death of a Surrey teen on Sunday has left the community feeling “fear and worry” about whether police and other officials know how to safely interact with autistic people.

In a release on Wednesday, AutismBC shares that the death of the 15-year-old Clayton Heights Secondary School student has left the boy’s family, friends, and community in “deep mourning, experiencing a range of emotions, including anger, confusion, and a profound need for comfort and security.”

“We strongly advocate for trauma-informed care to support our community, and this profound loss has amplified the urgency for action among our partner groups. It is crucial to emphasize understanding of disabilities affected by delayed executive functioning and auditory processing and to enhance our protection of the non-speaking community members who can be particularly at risk,” the group stated.

“To this end, we advocate for comprehensive education and training for all emergency medical services across sectors. Additionally, we continue to advocate for a neuroaffirmative and voluntary identification system to support autistic and non-speaking individuals. “

On Feb. 9, Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit — the remaining RCMP unit in Surrey — officers responded to a call about a person in distress in a schoolyard, reportedly with a gun, near 188th Street and 70th Avenue.

After what the Mounties called “an extensive interaction,” shots were fired and the teen died. The actions of officers are now under investigation by the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO).

“Initial investigative steps will seek to determine if police actions were necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances,” the IIO explained at the time.

In an update to its investigation, the IIO stated on Tuesday that the police oversight body “has a responsibility to avoid releasing any information that could prejudice an investigation, contaminate witness memories, or unduly infringe on the privacy rights of an affected person.”

“Similarly, a critical component of this work is ensuring that information released by our office has been independently verified to the fullest extent possible before we confirm details publicly. This is particularly true in cases where a non-police weapon was involved in an incident,” the IIO shared.

“Identifying a particular type of weapon may be seen by some to suggest a conclusion to the issue of whether the police action was justified or not.  To avoid that perception, important details like the weapon type are held back until a full and complete investigation has been conducted. In some cases, it may be important to note that a weapon was present to give the public an accurate snapshot of the incident.”

AustismBC says it is dedicated to working with government ministries to address the gaps in support for children, youth, and adults in the province.

“We highlight the lack of support for bright, verbal, autistic youth with high social-emotional needs and strong cognitive skills, whose challenges are often overlooked in both the ‘needs-based’ funding system and the school system, especially at the high school level,” it said.

“We acknowledge that social isolation stemming from a lack of connection and support can exacerbate mental health issues for autistic youth. Our youth are in urgent need of wrap-around support from the above ministries.”

The group says there is a need to stay focused on advocacy and “operating with hope amid tragedy.”

“We highlight the importance of holding space for emotions while acting from a place of care for the community. We call for collective support in addressing the needs of the families and community impacted by this tragic loss. We urge our educational system to put support in place for students not just in Surrey but across the province, as the impact of this event is felt as a collective community. We cannot overstate the importance of trauma-informed practices and understanding disabilities,” it stated.

“We are committed to advocating to close the funding gap for social-emotional support in schools, especially for autistic and neurodivergent youth. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of relationship-based community development. We encourage a focus on advocacy work with hope and care through education and awareness.”

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