Karen markle

Karen markle

July 11, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

Autism in Family Courts—What the Bench and Bar Need to Know

Family court judges deal with a variety of complex issues on a daily basis. Some of the issues are amusing; who gets custody of the dog, who gets the plaid chair, or who gets to keep the thimble collection. But when children are involved, the case becomes more complicated, especially when issues like mental health, mental or physical disability and developmental disability arise. In fact, the latest concern in family courts is a result of the sharp increase in the number of children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which has revealed that our courts are not prepared to handle cases with ASD individuals and families.

By Kelly C. Wall and Karen Markle

8 minute read