Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center Holds First Responder Day

Hopebridge Autism Therapy in Newburgh welcomed EPD officers, firefighters, and others, to give kids an opportunity to build relationships with the first responders.

In a car -- that's a barrier -- i know there is an officer in my neighborhood but i don't know who that officer is.

This puts us right there to be accessible."

And across town -- another group of first responders -- were connecting with children.

Hope-bridge autism therapy welcomed e-p-d officers and fire fighters from the ohio township fire department -- to the center on wednesday.

The event was designed to help children with autism build critical relationships with first responders.

"it gives our kids the opportunity to greet the first responders.

In the event that they might run into a situation where they have to meet a police officer, firefighter or someone from ems, they are a little more comfortable with those first responders, and hopefully the first responders will be a little more comfortable with them, too."

The children also got a change to check out the squad cars and fire engines -- up