Overview

• The Neurodevelopmental Residential Treatment Unit in Albion, Pennsylvania, is designed to cater to prisoners with autism and similar disabilities, providing a more supportive and less overwhelming environment.
• Staff at the unit focus on individual treatment, offering activities like puzzle-solving, yoga, and art to help inmates cope with sensory overstimulation.
• Inmates in the program report feeling safer and more capable of developing social skills and independence, crucial for their reintegration into society after release.
• Critics argue for the expansion of such specialized units, citing the lack of adequate accommodations for prisoners with disabilities across the U.S.
• The program includes regular training for corrections officers on de-escalation and crisis intervention, aiming to create a secure yet accommodating environment.