Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Doug Passon: Breaking Down Barriers, How Understanding Autism Changes Legal Outcomes
Send us a text Doug Passon shares his journey as a criminal defense lawyer and filmmaker advocating for autistic individuals in the legal system, drawing from both his professional experience and personal connection as a parent of an autistic son. • Criminal defense lawyer who uses documentary filmmaking to humanize clients at sentencing • Pioneered the use of video in sentencing mitigation, recognized by Wall Street Journal • Self-described as both lawyer and filmmaker who shows humanity be...
11 4月 2025 - 29 मिनट 28 सेकंड
Brian Kelmar:Breaking Down Barriers: One Father's Fight to Reform Legal Treatment of Autism
Send us a text Brian Kelmar shares his inspiring journey of creating Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities (D3), an organization helping families whose autistic loved ones become entangled in the criminal justice system. His personal experience with his teenage son's case revealed a shocking truth: many states fail to recognize developmental disabilities in criminal proceedings, despite acknowledging conditions like mental illness or addiction. • Working to change laws, perceptions,...
10 4月 2025 - 27 मिनट 15 सेकंड
Steven Waddell: Rocks, Rails, and Revelations: A Model's Autism Story
Send us a text Stephen Waddell takes us on a powerful journey of self-discovery as he shares how he uncovered his autism in adulthood after building a successful modeling career. Despite being naturally introverted and struggling with social interactions, Stephen found himself thrust into a profession that demanded social fluency – forcing him to systematically develop scripts and strategies that masked his autistic traits. A near-fatal accident on the New York subway at age 21 became...
9 4月 2025 - 27 मिनट 30 सेकंड
Mark Mahoney: Fighting for Autism Justice
Send us a text Mark Mahoney reveals his groundbreaking work as possibly the only attorney in North America exclusively dedicated to defending individuals with autism spectrum disorder who face criminal charges. Through years of specialized practice, he shares crucial insights about how the criminal justice system fundamentally misunderstands autism. • Autism directly affects social understanding and learning of unwritten rules • People with autism often commit crimes without understand...
8 4月 2025 - 30 मिनट 59 सेकंड
Bart Barta: Training First Responders for Autism Encounters
Send us a text When autism intersects with law enforcement, the results can be harmful or even catastrophic without proper training and understanding. Retired law enforcement commander Bart Barta shares his journey of creating specialized training for first responders after his son's autism diagnosis. • Started Autism Safety 101 after 31 years in law enforcement and his son's autism diagnosis at age 3 • Individuals with autism are seven times more likely to encounter law enforcement th...
7 4月 2025 - 30 मिनट 59 सेकंड
Country Music Unites for Autism Awareness
Send us a text Country music and autism awareness come together at Nashville Palace for "An Acoustic Evening for Autism," where artists use their platform to support families affected by autism through the newly formed Country Music Autism Awareness Foundation. • Doug Mathis explains how his song about an autistic boy named Jack led to creating an annual benefit concert • The event features performances from Daryl Worley, T Graham Brown, John Barry, and others to raise funds for Vanderbilt's...
6 4月 2025 - 16 मिनट 49 सेकंड
Dennis Debbaudt : reveals how proper training can prevent tragic misunderstandings between autism and law enforcement.
Send us a text Dennis Debbaudt shares his 30-year journey addressing autism-related police interactions and developing training programs for law enforcement nationwide. His pioneering work bridges the gap between public safety professionals and the autistic community through educational materials, videos, and hands-on training that helps prevent tragic misunderstandings. • Former detective agency owner whose autistic son's diagnosis in the 1980s revealed a complete lack of resources on...
5 4月 2025 - 24 मिनट 26 सेकंड
Elizabeth Kelley:Autism in the Legal System: A Defense Attorney's Perspective
Send us a text Criminal defense attorney Elizabeth Kelley shares her expertise on representing individuals with autism spectrum disorder and mental health conditions in the justice system, revealing how these clients are often misunderstood and how proper legal representation can change outcomes. • Started career representing a client with intellectual disability who was manipulated into criminal activity • Defines mental disabilities broadly to include mental illness, intellectual disabilit...
4 4月 2025 - 29 मिनट 35 सेकंड
Jerry Turning: From Officer to Advocate: One Dad's Mission to Bridge the Gap
Send us a text Jerry Turning shares his journey from veteran police officer to autism advocate after his son's diagnosis, creating Blue Bridge Autism Training to educate first responders about autism. His unique perspective bridges the gap between law enforcement and the autism community, helping prevent dangerous misunderstandings during crisis situations. • Turning spent 22 of his 25-year police career as a canine handler before his son's autism diagnosis changed everything • Police ...
3 4月 2025 - 29 मिनट 46 सेकंड
Meet Dr. Theresa Haskins: The Mom Who Rewrote the Rulebook on Autism
Send us a text Dr. Theresa Haskins shares her journey from a mother seeking answers for her autistic son to becoming an educator and researcher dedicated to creating more inclusive systems for neurodivergent individuals. Her experiences navigating medical dismissals, educational barriers, and workplace challenges illuminate how society needs to fundamentally shift its approach to neurodiversity. • Mother of a "thrice exceptional" son (autistic, ADHD, and gifted) who could count to 100 ...
2 4月 2025 - 30 मिनट 21 सेकंड