8/4/26: Invisible and Incarcerated: The Overlooked Link Between FASD and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
This presentation examines the often-overlooked relationship between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. It explores how unidentified or misunderstood FASD-related challenges, including difficulties with impulse control, executive functioning, memory, communication, and understanding consequences, can contribute to school discipline, exclusion, and eventual justice-system involvement. The session highlights critical gaps in identification and support while emphasizing the need for earlier intervention, disability-responsive practices, and stronger collaboration among schools, families, behavioral health providers, disability professionals, and justice-system partners.
Robyn Holt serves as the Director of The Arc of NJ's Criminal Justice Advocacy Program. With a background dedicated to supporting individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring diagnoses, Robyn has worked in crisis intervention, partial care, community outreach, and directed New York City's largest Supported Housing program. Having closely interacted with individuals with disabilities in the community, she observed significant gaps and systemic issues in criminal justice matters, particularly the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Robyn holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, dual degrees in Psychiatric Rehabilitation/Psychology, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at Rutgers.