Description:

L.E.A.N On Us was founded in 2001 by Andrew and Carolyn Gammicchia.  At the time Carolyn was participating in the Partners in Policymaking training program in her state and this was one of the project she chose to do.  As the sibling of a brother who lived with Epilepsy most of his life, she knew what it was like for him when he encountered law enforcement who often did not recognize he was having a seizure.  As parents of a son with autism, and both within law enforcement at the time, they also realized more training was needed on disabilities and appropriate response.  Additionally they also realized this would take a 50/50 collaborative partnership between communities members with disabilities, their family members, as well as first responders in a variety of fields.