Identifying and Working with Juveniles with Developmental Disabilities
Presented by Jessica Oppenheim, Director of The Arc of New Jersey Criminal Justice Advocacy Program
Youth enter the criminal justice system and are often never identified as having a developmental disability. That disability, however, can affect every aspect of their interaction with the system. It is imperative that professionals understand what a developmental disability is, what it looks like, how it impacts on communication and compliance. This overview will describe disabilities, obstacles to understanding and
communication and how professionals can more effectively work with this population. Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Disorder, intellectual disabilities and other neurological disorders that affect comprehension and communication will be discussed. Tips for working with this population will be provided, as will useful handouts.