In an Australian first, the NSW Police Force is now being trained on how to recognise and react to people with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.
Her very public death, filmed on camera, was the subject of a coronial inquest into why she was shot.Five years on, her mother Leesa Topic said Courtney hadn't done anything wrong and said she believes things could have gone differently. "It's very difficult for somebody who doesn't understand what they're looking at, you can't expect somebody to know something that they've never been exposed to before," she said.
"We're not doctors, we're not nurses, we're not specialists, we have enormous pressure to deal with things quickly, but this course and the feedback from the police officers who have done this course, they're saying 'why didn't we do this 30 years ago?'"
I went to school with Courtney. She was always quiet and shy and sweet. Her and her friend would give me company every sports carnival. They were the sweetest. She is not the monster that media originally made her out to be. Broke my heart what they put her family through.
Does the family know you have shared her photo I went to school with her and she was quiet and shy but very sweet and it so sad seeing her face pop up every few years for the most tragic reason 🥺
lionheartleojai What? without shooting, taser, water boarding them first? Then calling for backup support to testify all procedures were valid and lawful.. will be a great training course.. if they pass.
That's because the police are I'll equipt to handle them. They'll lump them in with people who have a mental illness, and we all know how badly the police treat them. I repeat, policing should be a 4yr degree with mandatory mental health training - annually. No more excuses!
Perhaps the autistic should adapt their behaviour rather than thousands of police?
Yes,lock up Greta!
We can mention them but not the ethnic gangs in Melbourne
This issue was brilliantly explored in the show Atypical.
Despite how progressive Aus has become there is such a HUGE stigma with autism.
Other hiddendisabilities also have higher frequency, with police services. Including in NDIS Plans, can often be a much needed solution. Thanks, sbsnews!