Technology North connected with the EPS as cohort member of the Telus Community Safety Wellness Accelerator facilitated by the Edmonton Police Foundation, where ongoing conversations sparked an idea for a unique project involving Technology North’s dedicated autism employment program.
“Speaking with Technology North, we came to realize there was an incredible opportunity for the EPS to expand our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace through the addition of neurodiverse employees to our team,” says Supt. Derek McIntyre with the EPS Information and Analytics Division.
“Working collaboratively with Technology North, we developed this project to train a group of their autistic employees to assist us with the redaction of body worn camera footage, which is structured and repeatable work that suits their extraordinary capabilities and talents.”
The research development project, which employs four of Technology North’s employees, two of whom are people with autism, began in June and involves the redaction of body worn camera footage in low complexity incidents such as traffic stops where a violation is issued. The redaction process includes the removal of any footage that may infringe on the privacy of individual(s) not directly involved in in the police interaction, such as the license plate on a nearby vehicle, a citizen walking past or a computer, phone screen or paper document that contains sensitive or private information. This work must often be done frame by frame and requires high attention to detail, a quality that autistic employees exemplify.
"Public and private sectors must work together to create innovative and sustainable solutions to address societal challenges. This quote from EPS Chief McFee profoundly resonates with our vision and mission and for me, as a father with a son on the autism spectrum,” says Ling Huang, President and CEO of Technology North.
“This project is a testament to a successful partnership between Technology North and the EPS, which aims to create large-scale, meaningful digital-age jobs for youth and adults on the autism spectrum and beyond. Technology North and EPS are setting a benchmark in community-driven initiatives by offering individuals and families hope rather than despair and paving the way for an enhanced quality of life and independence.”
The project, which currently has no end date, aims to test an ongoing relationship with members of Technology North’s self-named A-Team. If successful, expansion will take place alongside the phased service-wide implementation of body worn cameras.
“We are hopeful that this work is a good fit and that we can provide an environment that feels supportive, adaptable and inclusive for Technology North’s neurodiverse team,” says Acting Chief Ron Anderson.
“Mr. Huang has shared with us the positive impacts that his program has on organizations, autistic individuals and their families. The opportunity to further these positive impacts is a win-win for all of us.”
Background information
Technology North
Founded in the late 1990s by current President and CEO Ling Huang, Technology North has called Edmonton home for decades. In 2004, Ling’s son Brian was diagnosed with autism, which prompted Ling and his wife to imagine what Brian’s future would hold in the workforce. This resulted in the 2019 launch of Technology North Digital Services (TNDS), a dedicated autism employment program, which helps break down complex IT work into small, manageable tasks for neurodiverse employees. The program, which began with four employees and one job coach, has since grown to over 20 employees and two job coaches and uses RoboCoach, an in-house purpose-built assistive technology that monitors the work and wellbeing of autistic individuals in the workplace.
Body Worn Cameras at EPS
Following the Body Worn Cameras (BWC) trial that began in July 2023, the EPS is commencing phased service-wide implementation this fall. This decision follows the March 2023 Alberta Government mandate requiring the use of body worn cameras by all police officers. As part of the trial, EPS tested cameras with 35 officers working with Transit and Community Safety Teams (TRACS), the Healthy Streets Operations Centre Community Safety Teams (HSOC) and the High-Risk Encampment Teams (HRET). The goals of body worn cameras remain multifaceted, but overall aim to create a more efficient accountability process and reduce use of force incidents for both officers and the public. A year later, trial feedback is positive and a phased service-wide roll out will begin this fall with officers in the Public Safety Unit, the Crime Suppression Branch, select divisional branches and units within the EPS Traffic Safety Section. This phased roll out is anticipated to continue through 2025.