Autism and the Law: When Trouble Comes Our Way

• By: Annie Kent, MA Mental Health Systemic Advocate, Educator and Freelance Writer
• July 5th, 2023
• aggression, cognitive behavioral, criminal justice system, crisis situations, de-escalation, first responder training, law enforcement, mental health, misinterpretation, Summer 2023 Issue, the law
• 1646    1

“I may have the advantage of race and gender. I may be able to stave off a meltdown for a short period. I may try my hardest to comply and be non-threatening, but I’m only ever one misunderstanding or nervous officer away from death. And it may be, in any given encounter, that there’s nothing...

Pathways to Resolution of Special Education Conflicts

• By: Tara C. Fappiano, Esq. Advocate, Mediator, and Litigator
• January 2nd, 2023
• arbitration, classroom, conflict, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, de-escalation, litigation, mediation, parents, problem solving, school, students, teachers, Winter 2023 Issue
• 1027    0

When conflict arises in an educational setting, there are multiple ways to resolve it. Some are small and easily resolved but may potentially lead to bigger conflicts and issues. Sometimes the conflict is substantial, and a resolution harder to achieve. Understanding different available methods of...

Crisis Management in Children with Autism and First Responders

• By: Alexis Pavlov, PhD, BCBA-D Nadrat Nuhu, PhD, BCBA-D Marcus Autism Center at Emory School of Medicine
• September 24th, 2021
• behavioral health, caregivers, challenging behaviors, children, crisis management, crisis plan, de-escalation, Fall 2021 Issue, first responders
• 4788    2

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to engage in challenging behavior than their neurotypical peers. Severity of these behaviors range from mild to very severe and include topographies such as aggression, self-injury, destructive behavior, pica, and elopement...

Assisting Caregivers with the De-Escalation of Challenging Behaviors

• By: Robert Parenti MOVIA Robotics, Inc.
• September 23rd, 2021
• challenging behaviors, children, de-escalation, Fall 2021 Issue, robot, Robot-Assisted Instruction, technology
• 1565    0

Throughout my time as a special education teacher and administrator, I have always searched for ways to help my Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) students de-escalate themselves without having to get to a point where the use of a protective hold was needed. This was, at times, a herculean feat because...