A public-health update to the City of Laredo Blue Ribbon Committee on Sept. 17 described new partnerships for autism surveillance and proposed outreach tools; committee members used the session to raise separate concerns about emergency-room and hospital handling of people with communication needs.

Denise, speaking for Michelle Ramos Perez, reported a formalized partnership for autism surveillance that includes an additional county and ongoing collaborations with school districts. "We have official partnership with Duval County... Completing collaboration with Laredo ISD," Denise said, and noted plans for a milestone-tracker app under consideration with state partners and a promotion card with a QR code for family outreach.

Separately, a committee member recounted a case in which an individual was taken to an emergency room, had limited communication, and was ultimately transferred to a San Antonio facility for psychiatric evaluation without adequate interpreter support during the stay. The committee member said the person was held for four days before local staff determined the hospital in San Antonio had not provided appropriate interpreter access and the person was returned to Laredo.

"They didn't touch him. They didn't help him," the committee member said, describing hospital and police interactions as confusing for the individual and his family. Members discussed whether ER social workers and hospital intake should have clearer processes for patients who need interpretation or alternative communication supports.

Committee members suggested a top-down outreach to hospital leadership and ER directors rather than ad-hoc site visits. One member said she had contacts at local hospitals who indicated willingness to collaborate on vocational and training programs and to act as points of contact for disability-access improvements.

Public-health staff said the earliest point of contact for medical emergencies is the ER and recommended starting coordination there and with urgent-care clinics. Staff members offered to work with committee volunteers to draft a timeline and outreach plan to hospital directors and to develop protocols that would improve interpreter access and staff awareness.

The committee also discussed public outreach and education: October is Disability Awareness Month, members said, and they proposed using local media, library displays and school outreach to publicize early-intervention resources such as ECI, as well as to help families know where to call when they notice early signs in young children. Public-health staff confirmed that families can contact local early-intervention services without a physician referral and that the program will proceed with evaluation when contacted.

No formal policy or hospital agreement was adopted at the meeting; committee members asked staff to draft outreach steps and to report back with contacts and a proposed timeline.