Page 42 - Aug Sept 2016

Elite Investigative Journal
Do We Need Autism Awareness Training in our Court System?, pg 42-44
©2014-2016 SYT Global, Inc.
Do We Need Autism Awareness Training

in Our Court System By Trish Ieraci

Photo Courtesy of assumptionjns.com
As the mom of an 18 year old with was frustrated that his peer thought it
autism, I worry about how my son will was okay to hit him. He was hurt by his
be treated, (mis)understood and react to classmate and didn’t understand why

all in the court system. he did it. If my son said what he did
when we received the subpoena in the
I ask “Do we need autism awareness courtroom, how would that have been

training for all court personnel?” received? My son was 13 at the time.

Before my sons 18th birthday, he was I ask, “Do we need autism awareness
subpoenaed twice to appear in court. training for all court personnel?”
The first time he was a victim and

the second time he was a witness. In I was able to find a court advocate that got
the first case a young man in school my son out of going to court. Now I ask

felt it was okay to hit my son not myself if this was really the best outcome
once but twice within the same week. for him. The court advocate spoke to me,
Supposedly my son looked “funny” not my son. I was able to provide input

to him. The case was turned over to on the community service the young man
the State Attorney’s Office. When we should receive. My son, the victim wasn’t

received the subpoena I knew that I asked what he thought. How fair was this
had to prepare my son, I advised him to my son?
that we would have to go to court. The

first words out of my sons’ mouth were I ask, “Do we need autism awareness
“I’m going to kill him”. I knew my son training for all court personnel?”

didn’t mean what he said. My son was

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