District 202 and the Plainfield Police Department partnered to educate neurodivergent drivers and police officers on safely navigating a traffic stop.
Neurodivergent refers to people who process information in ways that are not typical for their age. This variation could include a diagnosed condition like autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but neurodivergence itself is not a diagnosis. It just means the brain works differently than what is considered typical.
Stefan Bjes, District 202 Director of Safety and Security, hosted the Mock Traffic Stop training on April 21, 2026, at Plainfield High School-Central Campus.
About 40 people attended from PHS-CC, Plainfield East, and Plainfield South high schools, as well as Cumberland County.
The event included a presentation about what to do during a traffic stop, and drivers also went through a mock traffic stop to practice what they learned.
Bjes told the audience it is OK to be nervous during a traffic stop.
"Just about everybody has a little bit of anxiety when they see those red and blue lights behind them on a traffic stop,” he said. “For our neurodivergent drivers, there’s no difference,” he said.
The Blue Envelope program was also highlighted at the event.
Neurodivergent drivers carry a blue envelope containing their driver’s license, insurance, and an optional description of their need, such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity.
The driver gives the envelope to the police officer, so they know how to interact safely with the driver.
"We wanted to recognize that not only are there autistic drivers who may not know how to act on a traffic stop, but we also wanted to teach the officers to recognize how to act when they are in an interaction with a driver who has autism,” said Plainfield Police Department Community Engagement Officer Brett Keag.
Envelopes are available at the Plainfield Police Department, 14300 Coil Plus Drive.
