"We help them set and achieve goals that will last a lifetime…the normal goals that we all want: a nice home, good health, and a good job with a decent salary."
Betty Dent, Outreach Specialist at AADD

Justice & Developmental Disabilities

AADD has trained hundreds of law enforcement officials, judges, and attorneys throughout the state on developmental disabilities and best practices when encountering individuals with developmental disabilities in the criminal justice system. During training, participants are given information on some of the more common developmental disabilities they will see as well as communication techniques on how to deescalate the encounter. Participants are taught that the chances are greater they will encounter individuals with developmental disabilities as victims of crimes.  They are also given alternatives to incarceration for situations where a community resource would better serve the individual.

Through our Justice and Developmental Disabilities program, AADD provides Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for law enforcement and other first responders on dealing with individuals with developmental disabilities who they may encounter on an emergency or law enforcement call. This training helps to educate law enforcement and first responders on the different issues that may arise in this type of situation.

For more information about how AADD participates or to sign up to become a trainer, contact Crandall Heard at (404) 809-2945 or crandall@aadd.org.