Mother of autistic boy shot by police speaks out: 'Why didn't you just tackle him?'

[VPHawk]

24. Autism and mental health care

This is horrifying, especially to those of us with family and friends on the Autism spectrum. I can't even imagine how the parents must feel? I hope Linden heals quickly from the injuries caused by Law Enforcement. Another, of many, many examples, of law enforcement brutality and not being properly trained and/or not following the steps to descalate the situation. Law Enforcement needs mental health professionals on board. With the rapidly increasing Autism numbers and more people needing access to mental health care, appropriate training and staff is needed immediately. Unfortunately, pediatric and adult inpatient mental health facilities, in our experience, have been extremely lacking in their knowledge of how to talk to or help people on the Spectrum. I hope the ACLU and/or Disability Rights Commission will become involved so people won't be afraid to call for help and so that no other families will have this happen. Our hearts go out to Linden and his family. I hope the officers who did this will be fired and receive no financial or other benefits from their positions.

There was a young man in our neighborhood who was on the Spectrum. He was shot and killed a half block from our home. My son, who is on the Spectrum, saw all the police and the body covered with a blanket when we were leaving for school. It's not something that either of us will ever forget and it made the world more frightening. People who have disabilities don't seem to carry much value in our society. When you see statements, regarding Covid, like 'My kid is more important than your Grandma' or 'the people dying from covid-19 already have one foot in the grave,' it doesn't make anyone feel good that others think they are expendable.