The Disability Awareness Program (DAP) helps improve how public safety officers work with people in our community who have disabilities. DAP gives first responders important information to help them when they’re called to assist someone with a disability.

People who can sign up for the DAP program may have the following conditions:

• Speech impairments
• Vision impairments
• Hearing impairments
• Non-verbal
• Mood disorders
• Cognitive disabilities
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s or dementia
• Autism
• Asperger’s syndrome

How DAP Works

Signing up for DAP is optional. The information we collect is kept safe and private. If there’s an emergency or non-emergency call involving someone who’s signed up for DAP, their details, such as vehicle license plate number or address, are shared with the first responders. This helps them know about any special needs the person may have when they arrive.

This is a free service for everyone in the community.

If you, a family member, or caregiver think this information could help during an emergency, consider signing up for DAP.

Examples of DAP in Action

• Example 1: Officers are called to a home where the people inside are deaf. The officers would know to use other ways to communicate, as the people may not respond to verbal commands.
• Example 2: Officers are called to help someone with a developmental disability who is upset by loud sounds and flashing lights. The officers may turn off their sirens and lights to avoid making the person more uncomfortable.

How to Sign Up

1. Fill out the DAP application with details about the person’s condition, a recent photo, and emergency contact information.
2. Read and sign the Liability Waiver
3. Submit the application, the Liability Waiver and a close-up photo by:

• Option 1: Emailing it to Public Safety’s Crisis Intervention Team   
• Option 2: Dropping it off in person to:
  • Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Headquarters
    700 All America Way

A member of Public Safety’s Crisis Intervention Team will contact you to review the details and answer any questions you may have.

Once everything is approved, we will add the information to our system.

Keep Information Updated

It is important to keep your information up to date for the program to work best.

What Happens After You Sign Up?

When an emergency or non-emergency call comes in for a person who is in the DAP program, their information is shown to the dispatcher. The dispatcher can then share this information with the responding officers. The officers will use this information to better assist the person they’re helping.

Have Questions?

If you have questions, contact the Crisis Intervention Team