08/20/2026
The Arc is grateful to GBH News and Meghan Smith for covering this story and to Susan L Senator for her powerful advocacy and for sharing her story.
"We’re trying to help people understand that these behaviors - assaultive or aggressive behavior - they’re communication. These are people who have no other ways of communicating at times. ... We have been in a situation in the hospital so many times where he’s [my son] in pain, and all I’m doing is trying to protect the nurses, the doctors, and protect him from himself. He really has no understanding of the consequences of any of his behavior. He just wants his pain to end.” - CEO Maura Sullivan
Families of people with autism and intellectual disabilities say their behavior could be misinterpreted.