Bridging the Gap—Helping a Child Understand the Court Process: Manny

Manny, a 14-year-old with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), became involved with the Juvenile Court following a domestic assault and battery charge against his mother. She had contacted police during a violent incident at home in which he became aggressive toward her. When he appeared at Juvenile Court, Manny’s court-appointed attorney requested a Competency to Stand…