Pennslvania task force to help Autistics navigate courts

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced this week it has created a new taskforce focused on issues affecting those with autism and intellectual disabilities involved in the justice system.

The creation of the task force was necessary to help make justice accessible for all Pennsylvania residents, court officials said in a press release.

The task force is part of a partnership with the Pennsylvania Courts' Office of Children and Families and led by Justice Kevin M. Dougherty on behalf of the Supreme Court.

It will focus on providing increased training opportunities for judges, helping further identify gaps in the system for those with autism and intellectual disabilities, and creating a local roadmap to resources and services, the court said.

“We learned so much from our listening tour – identified challenges, discussed experiences and committed to working together to find solutions -- but what we really learned is how much work there is to be done,” said Dougherty. “By creating a taskforce and partnering with our Office of Children and Families in the Courts who work primarily with children and families in the dependency court system, we’re positioning ourselves to better assist those who need it before they enter the court system.


The new partnership with the Office of Children and Families in the Courts will allow the court to start with children, their families and bring together, judges, legal advocates and social service professionals all working to provide assistance.

“This taskforce brings together top thought leaders, advocates and practitioners from the courts, autism and intellectual disabilities communities, advocates and children and youth professionals so that we can continue working to develop a framework within the courts to assist those in need,” Dougherty said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about this new partnership and our path for moving forward, but this is just the beginning.

"While we are starting with children and families in our dependency system to build a foundation, we will look to replicate this framework across the court system once the taskforce completes its work.”