Christine Vester

The system treats neurological differences like a criminal behavior. And that has to change. We have to do better. We see it in the news every day. And, you know, we have judges and attorneys and house representatives and families coming forward on this podcast. So I really hope that the prosecutors and judges really listen to this.

Exactly. They don't call expecting that they're going to get a criminal record. They don't expect, you know, I hate to say this, but sometimes guns get drawn at them. They're looking for help, protection, and understanding. And they're met with a system that's not prepared. And I'm not anti-police. There are some really good police officers out there.

Exactly. They don't call expecting that they're going to get a criminal record. They don't expect, you know, I hate to say this, but sometimes guns get drawn at them. They're looking for help, protection, and understanding. And they're met with a system that's not prepared. And I'm not anti-police. There are some really good police officers out there.

Exactly. They don't call expecting that they're going to get a criminal record. They don't expect, you know, I hate to say this, but sometimes guns get drawn at them. They're looking for help, protection, and understanding. And they're met with a system that's not prepared. And I'm not anti-police. There are some really good police officers out there.

Unfortunately, you hear it in the news, there's things that happen. The CIT trainers are really trying to push for better training at a street level. And it should be on a federal level, just as if they were carrying their firearms. They can't go out until they fully trained. It should be the same way with autistic individuals and mental health.

Unfortunately, you hear it in the news, there's things that happen. The CIT trainers are really trying to push for better training at a street level. And it should be on a federal level, just as if they were carrying their firearms. They can't go out until they fully trained. It should be the same way with autistic individuals and mental health.

Unfortunately, you hear it in the news, there's things that happen. The CIT trainers are really trying to push for better training at a street level. And it should be on a federal level, just as if they were carrying their firearms. They can't go out until they fully trained. It should be the same way with autistic individuals and mental health.

There should be a training because once that first moment turns into an arrest, it's hard to reverse that damage. It could be life or death. And even to an officer that's in that position and something tragic happens, they go home to their family. And they have to live with this too. It just, we have to do better.

There should be a training because once that first moment turns into an arrest, it's hard to reverse that damage. It could be life or death. And even to an officer that's in that position and something tragic happens, they go home to their family. And they have to live with this too. It just, we have to do better.

There should be a training because once that first moment turns into an arrest, it's hard to reverse that damage. It could be life or death. And even to an officer that's in that position and something tragic happens, they go home to their family. And they have to live with this too. It just, we have to do better.

It is, we're seeing it at a local, state, and federal level, from police intercept, in a state courts, in the federal courts. Autistic individuals are arrested basically for their behaviors, not because they're dangerous, but because the system misreads their needs. This isn't about intent. It's about misunderstanding. And we need a national response.

It is, we're seeing it at a local, state, and federal level, from police intercept, in a state courts, in the federal courts. Autistic individuals are arrested basically for their behaviors, not because they're dangerous, but because the system misreads their needs. This isn't about intent. It's about misunderstanding. And we need a national response.

It is, we're seeing it at a local, state, and federal level, from police intercept, in a state courts, in the federal courts. Autistic individuals are arrested basically for their behaviors, not because they're dangerous, but because the system misreads their needs. This isn't about intent. It's about misunderstanding. And we need a national response.

And that's why I'm so grateful you're giving the families and the attorneys and house representatives, CIT trainers, a platform to talk about this.

And that's why I'm so grateful you're giving the families and the attorneys and house representatives, CIT trainers, a platform to talk about this.

And that's why I'm so grateful you're giving the families and the attorneys and house representatives, CIT trainers, a platform to talk about this.

Families enter into a legal system that doesn't often understand autism at all. That's what I've found. I've been in the courtrooms. I've talked to the families. I've watched how this is all playing out. Prosecutors, judges, even defense attorneys aren't always trained in how autism affects communication or their behaviors or intent behind it. They're not career criminals. They have a disability.

Families enter into a legal system that doesn't often understand autism at all. That's what I've found. I've been in the courtrooms. I've talked to the families. I've watched how this is all playing out. Prosecutors, judges, even defense attorneys aren't always trained in how autism affects communication or their behaviors or intent behind it. They're not career criminals. They have a disability.

Families enter into a legal system that doesn't often understand autism at all. That's what I've found. I've been in the courtrooms. I've talked to the families. I've watched how this is all playing out. Prosecutors, judges, even defense attorneys aren't always trained in how autism affects communication or their behaviors or intent behind it. They're not career criminals. They have a disability.

The gap leads to harmful assumptions in a courtroom. And that's dangerous. Autistic people may struggle to answer questions clearly. They might stim, avoid eye contact, or become nonverbal under pressure. But the system, you know, thinks it's a suspicious behavior or disrespectful or uncooperative. It's a complete unfair lens.