First responders, students, and community members came together on Oct. 28 at Garden City Community College for a combined training and artmaking experience designed to strengthen communication, empathy, and understanding between first responders and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The Visual Arts Department at GCCC collaborated with Garden City Arts, Dr. Amy Schmierbach of Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and students from the Collaborative Engaged Art Class in the Department of Art and Design at FHSU on the event.
The First Responder Art Collaboration Training (FACT) builds upon a growing movement to ensure more inclusive community engagement and improved outcomes during crisis situations.
The afternoon began with Blue Bridge Training, a nationally recognized, evidence-based curriculum developed by a retired police chief and father of an autistic son.
The program equips first responders with practical strategies for more successful and compassionate interactions with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities—communities that face heightened vulnerability in emergency responses.
Dr. Schmierbach, a certified trainer and parent of an autistic child, led the session, sharing firsthand expertise and impactful research.
A collaborative weaving workshop followed, where first responders and first responder students took part alongside community members with IDD, including participants from Mosaic and art students from GCCC and FHSU.
This interactive activity allowed participants to directly apply communication techniques from the earlier training, fostering comfort, connection, and mutual respect through a shared creative experience.
The weaving project supported sensory engagement, offering repetitive kinetic movement often utilized by individuals with autism as a form of self-regulation. The result was a warm and supportive environment in which meaningful dialogue and friendships naturally emerged.
“While the information was extremely valuable, the highlight for me was interacting with the young man at the weaving station,” said Robert Scrivner, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Public Safety at GCCC. “We had a great conversation about Captain America, and his smile afterward was infectious. Made my day! Plus, I had never woven before, so I really got a lot out of it.”
More than 25 first responders and first responder students participated, including significant representation from EMS paramedic programs as well as criminal justice and fire safety programs.
Dr. Schmierbach brought FACT to Garden City, following successful collaborations in Hays, Atwood, and Wichita. GCCC thanked Garden City Arts Executive Director Katy Guthrie for her outstanding organizational support and the ongoing commitment to accessible arts programming in our region. Appreciation was also given to Michael Knutson and the GCCC Visual Arts Department for their leadership in making this educational opportunity possible.
This collaborative effort reflects the shared belief that art holds the power to connect individuals, deepen awareness, and strengthen communities. Garden City Community College looks forward to offering future programming that continues this vital and uplifting work.
