Joe Scoledge hopes to help those who have trouble communicating in emergencies. Scoledge, 17, a senior at Pembroke High School, has created cards with feelings, emotions, places and people for police officers and firefighters to use with autistic children and others who are nonverbal or too upset to speak.

Scoledge presented the “Nonverbal Communication Cards,” his Eagle Scout project, to police and fire officials Monday at a program sponsored by the Pembroke Special Education Parent Advisory Council. They will be placed in the town’s emergency vehicles.

“I made up cards so autistic people can talk to the first responders,” Scoledge said. “It’s kind of hard because they can’t concentrate, get stressed out. ... A lot of the times they’re nonverbal.”

Scoledge, whose father is a firefighter, said he came up with the idea several years ago, after attending a program through the The Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition at the fire station with his dad.

The program, sponsored by the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, provided training to first responders so they were able to recognize situations involving children and adults with autism.

The speaker showed attendees a key ring with nonverbal communication cards that first responders used in her town. Pembroke police and fire officials expressed an interest in using those cards, said Eleanor Prosper, a former co-chair and member of the council.

Prosper, who has an autistic son in third grade, said Scoledge approached her about the project after the meeting.

She said there are autistic children who are nonverbal and use pictures to communicate. Some children also get so upset in emergencies that they have a hard time speaking, she said.

Scoledge collected, printed and cut out 66 images, laminated them and attached them to key rings. He created 40 sets of 33 cards with images like “sick,” “eat,” “water,” “parent” and “police person.”

He raised money for the project from local businesses, the police and fire unions and scout leaders. Other scouts helped him with the project.

He also created a binder with forms that parents of autistic children can fill out in case their kids wander off. Parents are encouraged to submit them with photographs. They will be kept at the police station.

Prosper said the book could lead officers to a missing child. If first responders know what children are interested in, she said, it can also help keep them calm in emergencies.

“It was something that I wanted and a lot of my friends with autistic children wanted, just in case,” she added. “We’re so excited that it’s done and that it can be passed off into the community.”

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com.