Court Overturns Conviction Of Cop Who Shot At Unarmed Man With Autism

 An appeals court has overturned the conviction of a former police officer who was convicted for shooting at a man with autism holding a silver toy truck, a case that drew national headlines. Read More >

This Sticker Could Help Police Better Respond To People With Special Needs

 Law enforcement agencies are making decals available for families to place on their cars and homes to alert first responders of those who may struggle with the sights and sounds of an emergency. Read More >

Lawsuit: Officers Handcuffed, Jailed 11-Year-Old With Autism For Scratching Classmate

 School resource officers allegedly left a boy with autism in a patrol car for two hours and booked him in jail for scratching a classmate with a pencil. His parents had to post a $25,000 bond. Read More >

Program Gives Law Enforcement Training To Those With Special Needs

A program that places adults with special needs at internships with law enforcement agencies is boosting job skills while helping officers learn about interacting with people with disabilities. Read More ;

First He Was Shot At By Police. Now He Is Being Evicted From His Group Home

Three years after a man with developmental disabilities wandered from his group home and found himself at the center of a police shooting, his troubles are far from over. Read More ;

Grassroots Movement Educating First Responders On Special Needs Interactions

Spurred by the death of a man with Down syndrome at the hands of off-duty sheriff's deputies, families are making it their mission to educate first responders about people with disabilities. Read More >

For Those With ASD, Virtual Reality Could Help Improve Police Encounters

Researchers are looking to determine if virtual reality can help teach people with autism how to respond to law enforcement officers, potentially saving lives. Read More;

'Game-Changing' App Helps Police Interact With People With Special Needs

In the past, police might have had little information to help them navigate interactions with individuals who have disabilities, but one app could help change that. Read More ;

Autism And The Law: Boy's Incarceration Reveals Failures Of The System

With escalating behavior issues, county caseworkers told the mother of a teen with autism to call police if her son acted out. Now he's facing felony charges that he doesn't comprehend. Read More >

Study Shows People With Disabilities More Likely To Be Arrested

People with disabilities are far more likely to be arrested by the time they reach their late 20s than their typically-developing peers, new research indicates. Read More >

App Bridges Gap Between Police, Those With Special Needs

A new smartphone app is alerting police officers with information about people with "invisible disabilities" in the hopes of better managing crisis situations. Read More; 

Interacting with the Police

NAA's Meet the Police
safety initiative is a free, downloadable toolkit for individuals with autism, parents or caregivers who are concerned about their loved one's safety in the community. The purpose of this program is to help enhance the quality of interactions between individuals with autism and members of law enforcement.

The toolkit includes steps you can take to establish trusting relationships, reduce confusion and fear, and encourage opportunities for law enforcement agencies to get to know members of their community who may be at increased risk due to behaviors commonly associated with autism.

Meet the Police- A Guide to Introducing Children & Adults w/ ASD to Local Law Enforcement

NAA's Meet the Police initiative is a free, downloadable toolkit for individuals with autism, parents or caregivers who are concerned about their loved one's safety in the community. The purpose of this program is to help enhance the quality of interactions between individuals with autism and members of law enforcement.  

The toolkit includes steps you can take to establish trusting relationships, reduce confusion and fear, and encourage opportunities for law enforcement agencies to get to know members of their community who may be at increased risk due to behaviors commonly associated with autism.
 Click to download.

Police Learn To Better Understand People With Disabilities

Using a unique two-way approach, law enforcement officers and individuals with developmental disabilities are learning to interact more appropriately with one another. Read More ;

Judges Learn How To Work With Defendants On The Spectrum

As more people with autism come in contact with the court system, one state is requiring that judges be trained to better understand the developmental disorder. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/03/01/judges-defendants-spectrum/21978/

Plea Deal Reached In Meltdown Case

In a closely-watched case, an 18-year-old with autism will avoid trial for a felony assault charge that his parents said would criminalize behavior that's a direct result of his disability. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/02/19/plea-deal-meltdown-case/21936/

Police Get Schooled On Special Needs Interactions

Three years after a man with Down syndrome died in a struggle with sheriff's deputies, police recruits in one state are taking part in mandatory disability training.  https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/01/19/police-special-needs/21793/

Report Explores Rising Rates of Incarceration for Youth with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Although juvenile crime and incarceration has declined overall, the incarceration rate for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities is rising. The National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability worked with PACER and others to produce a report that highlights emerging issues and promising practices from across the country. These include parent involvement in the juvenile justice system, strategies for parents and advocates, the school-to-prison pipeline, restraint and seclusion in schools, and more. The report is available for free download. http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/programs-and-services/national-initiatives/nccjd/justice-involved-youth-with-i/dd   To learn more about PACER’s juvenile justice resources, visit PACER.org/jj.

New Tool Helps Police Tailor Response To Those With Special Needs

A database that allows families to proactively offer information to police about the special needs of those with developmental disabilities is easing interactions with law enforcement.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/06/18/new-tool-police-response/20392/

Schools Accused Of Forcing Out Special Education Students

Advocates are accusing schools across one of the nation's largest states of using truancy laws to funnel kids with disabilities off their rolls.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/05/29/schools-accused-forcing-out/20344/