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Supporting Autistic and Neurodivergent Individuals in the Courtroom and in the Community
SESSION INFO
Monday, August 17, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Session Type: Workshop
Neurodiversity, including autism and other neurological differences, is being diagnosed in increasing numbers. Understanding the unique perspectives and challenges faced by individuals with autism is not only essential for ensuring fairness but also for ensuring equity within the justice system. By having a better understanding of how to support autistic individuals in the justice system, more informed and just probation and parole decisions will be made that promote safety, fairness, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community. In this session, we will explore understanding and accommodating autism and other neurodiversities in the justice system, the courtroom and the community by gaining a better understanding of individuals with neurodiversity as well as exploring the importance of agency training, cross system collaboration, accommodations in court, the community and effective supervision strategies. Session attendees will gain an understanding of ways to engage autistic individuals as well as learn how to access resources for inmates while incarcerated and upon release to the community.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Kate Hooven
Justice System Project Coordinator, Asert Collaborative
Kate Hooven, MS, is the Justice System Project Coordinator for ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) where she uses her background as a former juvenile probation officer and juvenile court consultant for the PA Juvenile Court Judges Commission to train justice system personnel. Kate is also the mother of three amazing children, including her 24-year-old son Ryan who was diagnosed with autism when he was four years of age. Ryan graciously allows Kate to share his experiences as an autistic individual to personalize the ASERT justice trainings as well as to raise awareness and promote acceptance for all autistic individuals. In 2025, Ryan began assisting ASERT trainings by sharing his own lived experiences. ASERT has trained over 26,000 law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers, judges, attorneys and other justice system personnel.
Ryan Hooven
Justice System Training Assistant, Asert Collaborative
Ryan Hooven is a 24-year-old autistic self-advocate. Ryan graduated from Kutztown University with a BA in Music. While in his last semester of college, Ryan worked part time for ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resource and Training) creating social stories for autistic college students as well as other resources. Ryan is now employed by ASERT as a Justice System Training Supporter supporting the justice system trainings by providing his lived experiences as an autistic individual as well as offering suggestions for officers and court personnel on how to better interact with individuals with autism. Ryan enjoys playing video games, watching his favorite Youtubers and traveling with his family.
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