The National Special Needs Registry is a voluntary service open to all citizens who reside, attend school or are employed in the United States and are affected in some way by a disability.

More specifically, the National Special Needs Registry is a database (maintained by the “National Law Enforcement and Community Policing Integrated Network” (OPS Network), in partnership with participating OPS Network Partner law enforcement agencies),  that contains profiles of registrants with disabilities.

The information contained within the registry provides law enforcement and other first responders with vital information about a registrant’s special needs in the event of an emergency.

Special needs are very broadly defined for purposes of the NSNR. Special needs are often defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity due to a physical and/or intellectual disability. Examples of special needs can include, but are not limited to:

• Mental Health Issues

• Mobility Issues (wheelchairs, power chairs, walkers)

• Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease

• Cognitive Impairments

• Autism

• Oxygen Dependency

• Hearing, Vision, or Speech Deficits

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Dialysis Dependent

• Paralysis /Stroke Patients

• Developmental/ Intellectual Disabilities

• Life Threatening Allergies

The information contained in the NSNR can help in several different ways.

1. Upon being dispatched to a residence, police dispatchers will be made aware that someone at that location is on the registry.

2. Depending upon the type of call, the dispatcher can better assess the type of response necessary and dispatch manpower and resources accordingly.  Also, police officers and/or first responders will be notified that there may be someone at the location with special needs, so that they can better gauge their respective responses.

3. In the event that a person with special needs is reported missing, first responders will have current photographs and other vital information at their fingertips that will aid in locating the missing person more expeditiously.  In an emergency, time is of the essence.

4. When a registrant encounters an emergency, or law enforcement, outside of their primary jurisdiction, participating agencies can access the NSNR from anywhere, regardless of originating jurisdiction.

5. During a law enforcement encounter, officers can be made aware of a person’s condition so that not only can proper action be taken, but proper care can be given.

6. Having the proper information available to law enforcement reduces the chance that a registrants behavior, possibly related to thier medical condition, is misinterpreted.

An individual can register themselves or they can be registered by a caretaker, family member or loved one. If someone is registering an adult other than themselves, they must have that person’s permission or be the legal guardian of the individual they are registering. Registration is easily accomplished through any secure OPS Network Partner Agency Community Interface’s Special Needs Registry Portal, or by visiting www.natonalspecialneedsregistry.org and locating the nearest NSNR OPS Partner Agency.

The NSNR is a 100% voluntary network system and no information is collected other than what is submitted and confirmed by a registrant or an authorized family member or caretaker.

You simply search the National Special Needs Registry (click here), locate your nearest participating OPS Network Partner Agency portal and complete the fields. 

There is no cost to register or register a loved one in the National Special Needs Registry. There is also no addition cost to utilize the NSNR for any active OPS Network participating agency. 

While there is no additional cost for agencies to participate in the NSNR, the agency must be a member of the OPS Network or be sponsoreded by a county or state OPS Network  Partner Agency.

Learn more about becoming an OPS Network Partner Agency HERE.

You should contact your nearest participating agency if you have any specific questions or needs.

No. The NSNR requires no APP or login to register.

Your local police agency may not yet be a member of the NSNR or National Law Enforcement and Community Policing Intergrated Network (OPS Network). 

Community members and political leaders can share the information found on the NSNR website with their local police agency while encouraging them to take the needed steps to participate in the NSNR.