Introducing Robin - Autism in the Criminal Justice System

Introducing Robin, our second artist, who is looking to begin the conversation on how Autism in the Criminal Justice System is handled. Robin, in his own words:

"My Name is Robin Hickman. I am Now 42 years old and have

been incarcerated since I was 19 years old (1999). I have autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder ('ASD" ). I was asked to write about what I go through and face in prison with autism. I have no problem with that just remember as Papillon stated " This is not just my story. But the story of Many."

In federal court it was noted that autism in prison is unstudied.

So, please take note of that. For those interested see; United States v. Morais, 670 F3d 889. Even worse is that treatment is nonexistent, especially, if you are not intellectually disabled. For these individuals a heavy burden is left to shoulder. A burden we do not know how to deal with. If my past thoughts of solutions to these burdens are representative of others choices as I know some are, solutions are tragic at times and result in the ultimate solution.

I was not diagnosed with autism until 2019. In 2013 I saw I was not the only person that was how I am. I found out what Asperger's syndrome and ASD was and felt a lifetime burden lift off my shoulders. I saw mental health but they would not address anything beyond anxiety. The psychiatrist put down Aspergers which was removed by a social worker. When I asked the psychologist for an evaluation and testing for ASD she said Illinois Department of Corrections does not provide testing for ASD because it is a developmental disorder diagnosed in childhood usually. She refused to evaluate me or provide "testing"

and did not even send me to see a psychiatrist. A little over a year later in 2019 I saw a psychiatrist due to mental decline. The psychiatrist was shocked I had not been seeing a psychiatrist. I was placed on some medications and the gamut of psychiatric evaluations followed over the next months resulting in a diagnosis of autism/ASD and PTSD among others. The psychiatrist and myself pushed for some accommodations. This place pushed back and had her remove my diagnosis. Only to be reinstated after the main psychologist left this institution.

I constantly was told my self-advocacy is held against me. As several mental health [professionals] have told me, IDOC (Illinois Department of Corrections) is not equipped to deal with autism. Their solution is to make it go away if it is an issue. How many others are there? The atrocities of mental health have been the subject of ongoing litigations in the federal courts in Illinois is being highlighted by the class action lawsuit of Rasho vs. Jeffreys.

Highlighted are mistreatment, non-treatment, abuses, and death. Yet, that is mental health which is quickly divided and separated from autism which is a developmental disorder. Yes, they hold autism separately.

With me people notice something odd. They can't put their 'finger' on it.

I can say 'Hi' and hold that brief monotonous repetitive dialogue with a person. I know that is what is expected. If something goes beyond that it is hard to remember what to say, what is the right response? What did he or she mean? What did it mean when he looked at the picture I had on my bed when he was talking to me? Yesterday or last month when this happened how did I respond? What was the response to my response? Negative? Positive? These are some questions. Then when I try to say things it does not come out right and a lot of times I am actually unable to say what I want to because what I am trying to say takes a little time to get out and some stutters and gaps. Some people think I am done and walk away.

This leaves an unended conversation or directed point unfinished. Try, as an experiment, to make a dual point of emphasis and stop after only one point. Go back to the person five minutes or an hour or the next day. Now add the other part and finish.

It doesn't even have to be a part of emphasis or even two-sided. Stop in the middle of a sentence or talking to someone. They walk off or continue talking. Go back and finish where it stopped. With me this is constant as my mind tries to catch up. It is worse with officers.

Then I say something about autism and those who are familiar see it. I can think my way through conversations for the most part if I know they are coming. So this "normalcy" is misperceived at times as being my normal.

Here I am surrounded by hundreds of people. Being social is the way to survive. I am asked why I looked that way, why my facial expression was like that. But I have been into confrontations over why others looked at me the way they did. Yet the expression I thought was present was not. Just like the expressions on my face was not what I meant. Compound this with actually having a fluid conversation beyond my parameters in an environment that can turn violent quickly and you can see more and more the struggles people face. Not to mention sensory issues and the role and impact they have in our lives. A conversation needs to be had, a serious conversation, on Autism In The Criminal Justice System. That is my desire, as I sit and write."

- Robin