BUFFALO, NY - The yellow traffic sign alerting drivers of an autistic child in the area are seen in the suburbs of Buffalo, but not in the city. City officials say the signs are not allowed in the State of New York.
2 On Your Side reached out to the New York State Department of Transportation. Susan Surdej, regional public information officer acknowledged the signs are in local communities outside of the city, but "are not authorized under the MUTCD or the New York State Supplement to the MUTCD. They are technically illegal signs."
Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger told 2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing they have signs up in the town for autistic children when requested by parents. "Our police department advised us that they are outside the recommendation of the motor vehicle law and DOT, but they are not illegal."
Emminger does not see a problem with the signs, just like there are signs for the deaf and blind. However, he acknowledges there are various degrees of autism.