Westford Police add sensory kits to cruisers to help responders assist people with sensory needs

The Westford Police Department has placed nine sensory kits in patrol cruisers to help officers assist individuals with sensory sensitivities during emergencies.

The kits, part of the "See the Able, Not the Label" project, include calming tools such as noise‑reducing headphones, a small stuffed animal, and communication cards for officers to use on scene. The tools are intended to help first responders provide comfort and clearer communication for people with sensory processing differences.

Meera Gillis, who developed the initiative after her family's experience navigating emergencies with multiple disabilities, said she hopes the kits will give first responders "the tools they need to provide comfort and understanding when it matters the most." The police department expressed gratitude to Gillis and volunteers who helped make the kits possible.

Next steps: the department will place the kits in cruisers and monitor how officers use them in the field; organizers hope the approach can be expanded if successful.