On the Ground

Below is a selection of autism court cases and I/DD lived experiences shared by individuals and families navigating the complexities of the legal system. We provide these personal narratives and legal system case studies to highlight the real-world intersection of developmental disabilities, cognitive processing, and systemic challenges.

By sharing these lived experiences, our goal is to foster deeper societal understanding and inform the educational best practices developed by our clinical and legal partners.

Disclaimer: The following narratives are shared strictly for educational and systemic awareness purposes. They represent personal accounts and do not constitute legal or medical advice. Every situation is highly unique. DThree strongly encourages families to prioritize securing appropriate legal counsel and specialized advocacy support prior to any interactions with authorities.

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Kelmar Story

My name is Brian Kelmar, and I am the father of a 24 year old son who has autism and…

Tom's son at the helm of a tractor
Tom and Jackie’s Story

We would like to first present our son’s early childhood development as a way to introduce to the reader the…

Matthew Rushin’s Story

On January 1, 2019, Matthew Rushin was a Black, autistic mechanical engineering student at Old Dominion University. He had a…

Matthew Rushin
Drew greets his dog
Drew Harrison’s Story

Our son, Drew Harrison, is on the Autism Spectrum. He served three active years of a 50-year prison sentence. Drew’s…

A Mother’s Nightmare

A MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE:My adult son has an Intellectual and Developmental Disability. He functions as a 10 year old child. His…

Dubin Story

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: MY STORY by Kitty Dubin My son, Nick, was not diagnosed with ASD until…

Adam’s Story

Narrative written by Ms. Carol Nesteikis on this 15th day of September, 2020. Adam is not capable of writing his…