Poorly produced, researched and reported.

Such a sad story about how our most vulnerable fall through societal cracks. Excellent and sensitive reporting.

As a parent of a woman with autism in her late 20’s, this podcast was both necessary and difficult to listen to. Audrey Quinn was a great narrator and was spot on in so many respects, including capturing the tendency of “experts” to be condescending and dismissive towards families. I also appreciate Audrey shining a light on the experience of individuals who are more challenged, who do not communicate with words, and who have significant behaviors. As parents, our worst fears include having police misunderstand and overreact to a situation, the fear is real. Arnaldo and his toy truck sitting in that cul de sac could have been my daughter. An epilogue would be great.

As a parent of a new adult on the spectrum who has just entered into a group home I appreciate the thorough review of the history and factors surrounding this horrible news story. These events are stuff of a special needs parent’s nightmares. We work our whole lives trying to ensure our loved ones will be safe, cared for, and loved. However, there are legitimate challenges that sometimes make a out of home placement essential. My son wants to live an independent life like everyone else. He doesn’t necessarily want to live at home with mom and dad forever. We want him to thrive and grow. I’m learning as we go here. If there are lessons to be learned from incidents I hope we can grow wiser from them and do better. Now if someone could go find out what happened at the Costco in Corona that resulted in the shooting death of a reportedly non-verbal man with ID, that would be a great follow up to this series.

As a special education teacher and a sibling of an adult with an intellectual disability, the respect shown in this story is fantastic. The reporting shows the family perspective in a truthful and compassionate way while also giving facts about the normal day-to-day experiences that most people with ID or ASD face. Everyone should listen to this, especially if you don’t know much about the lives of those with disabilities. Thank you for making this!

As a mother to an individual with autism, this story terrified me and made me reach out to local police to see what, if any, kind of training police officers are receiving with regard to dealing with people with disabilities. Great story, great reporting.

Thank you for sharing this podcast. In my opinion many people have no idea what happens to our fellow Americans with disabilities that are in a “home” or institution. You have shed light on this horrific industry and helped me to realize even more that something has to be done to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Beautifully done!

This story is incredibly important and unfortunately far too representative of what people with disabilities face across our country. I’m happy that this story is told on this format, but as a special education teacher, I was disappointed by some of the language and messages used by Audrey Quinn. I think she tried her best to report this story professionally and fairly, but I think the podcast should have had a co-host who is more knowledgeable about autistic adults or is autistic. Lots of other podcasts dealing with sensitive issues have co-hosts who can help the reporter understand and speak more appropriately.

This journalist is also a human being. Yet it doesn’t interfere with journalistic integrity. She’s a bulldog for facts in this case. Yet her heart leads her to see the people in “the case” as fellow human beings. I have learned a lot from listening to this window she provides to FAMILIES with neurodiverse members in their family.

Excellent coverage of a story everyone moved on from.

I am so happy I found this podcast. Some things I hear are heartbreaking, but I hope enough people will listen so progress can be made. I am a mom of a boy who has autism. He is high functioning, but still struggles. I have learned so much by listening to this podcast.

The story and the people affected is heartbreaking. I hope this podcast sheds a much needed light into the world of state funded facilities, the people who run them, for the employees who work in them and how they treat the human beings living there. 😢

Wonderful telling of the story and a deep dive into the intricacies of caring for adults with developmental disabilities.

Awesome job on autism from family side to the people who work and assist them. Job well done and worth the listen to.

Great work bridging so many important topics.

A great podcast

Wonderful reporting and attention brought to an overlooked population in this country.

What a beautiful, thoughtful, loving and insightful view into a world none of us want to know. Thank you so very much for edifying us, I look forward to your next journalistic adventure.

As a father to two children with Fragile x who have ASD diagnosis this is very relatable

I appreciate the covering of this important story but the hosts voice is absolutely impossible to listen to. Gah. Sounds like she's on the verge of crying or something. Sorry I can't keep listening.

How can a story so devastating be so gorgeous? Thank you for this.

Audrey Quinn has such a great voice I could listen to her read a technical manual

Thank you to Audrey Quinn and everyone involved in this important document. It will pass unnoticed and will make no difference, but at least someone still cares enough to do the work required to expose the truth of how the most helpless of us are abused and manipulated.

As a former special education teacher in an urban setting a lot of this hit home about the treatment and mistreatment of many in the special education community and the red tape their advocates have to go through to get them proper services. I also love how the reporter didn't try to sugar-coat anyone and just presented things as they were.

This was a very well done podcast that sheds light on a sad truth in our country. We need to take better care of our adults with developmental disabilities. I didn’t want the story to end.

We need more pods like this illuminating the reality of what people who are not privileged go through. Heartbreaking story. Impressive reporting & delivery. I hope this changes things. So many injustices, so few resources & this is about the lives of human beings. Why don’t we care?

The journalist is obviously well intentioned here but at the same time after finishing this series I feel disappointed. She talked to autistic people, which is good, but she only talked to the most visible figures in the community who are successful and live a life no where near Arnaldo's. The part where she tries to get Arnaldo's consent is the most telling about the different world many self advocates live in compared to those far more impaired. I myself am a high functioning autistic. That being said, I have no idea what the best for Arnaldo is and what he wants other than watching Youtube uninterrupted, nor do I claim to speak for him. The autistic advocates consulted have very specific, political motives that do not represent the welfare of all autistics. I can hear the impact they had on how this story was reported--how censored and watered down the "bad" parts of Arnaldo's behavior are. Lydia Brown is part of a political movement that opposes a cure for autism. Their view is currently the most politically correct view. I follow her and others on twitter but rarely engage because I know I will be immediately shot down and accused of internal ableism. It's sad that even in my "community" I continue to be talked over, bullied, and ignored. I understand the merits of their views for them but as the dominant group they do not try to understand those who do not agree. In order for the neurodiversity movement to promote the idea that autism isn't a bad thing and that if society just changed and accepted autistics then all of our problems would go away, they need to downplay the seriousness of many autistic's challenging behavior. I don't know why Arnaldo is aggressive, but you cannot say he should have autonomy of his life while also not holding him accountable for violence against other people. Psychology is young and research is needed but it sounds as if Arnaldo simply cannot control himself during meltdowns which is something I understand. The narrative here both infantilizes Arnaldo while trying to argue about how he should have control. It is inconsistent and I think we need to accept that there isn't a good answer currently. No matter how much more help he is given, and how many more hundreds of thousands are spent on his care he will never live the life society thinks a person should, and who are we to impose that on him? He derives the most pleasure from his Youtube videos and I think that if anything, he deserves an iPad and internet access. I wish the science and research would've been addressed here. There isn't much in terms of good science and real findings, I know, but still it would have made the story more complete. There is something called compassion fatigue where well meaning people hit a level of burn out where they may begin to do horrible things. It sounds like the Carlton Palms problem is more systemic and I am glad it is being shut down, but it is important that we understand better the issues surrounding behavior techs and those caring for Arnaldo. Shuffling him to different living arrangements and hoping is not the solution best for Arnaldo. If he's anything like me, moving is one of the most stressful things! I absolutely condemn any violence toward anyone, but at the same time I think we should try to understand the obstables techs face when placed in these situations with basically no training and little support. They are people with needs and complex, sometimes irrational brains too. It is a complicated issue but I feel like this podcast's conclusion that Arnaldo has been failed and should be given more help far too simplistic for what is an extremely complex, difficult issue. I don't disagree with it but I wish this journalist could've used her platform to highlight nuances instead of a simple good, bad, good narrative.

I love this podcast!!! Thank you for giving this to us...

Thank you for digging deeper and beyond the headlines. Thanks for such a sensitive and dignified reporting on the “throwaways” of our society. What I know for sure is that stories like yours not only affect a persons life but will alert family members of autistic/ mentally ill to be more vigilant about these places. As for Arnaldo, I believe you may actually have saved his life. He’s now the guy on the radio, and that does offer some protection! Reminds me so much of what Serial has done for Adnan Sayed!! Will be very pleased when you get recognition and awards for this amazing reporting! Can’t wait for the next installment ! Oh, and just one more thing- I think your voice is amazing, especially for a story like this. Not sure what people are on about with “vocal fry.” If that’s the worst that can be said about this story, then pop the champagne bottles! Jack Daniels

I want to sincerely thank all those involved in the creation of this podcast. Behavioral/mental health, suicide and addiction have become epidemic in this country. How did we let this happen here in America, and how did we let the few systems in place to be money machines, less concerned with patient’s well-being than the bottom line. We can’t begin to improve what we aren’t aware of, so thank you for bringing to light an aspect of our broken system. I’ve witnessed first-hand abused on a hospital’s psych unit, as well as heard the CEO of an addiction rehab refer to relapses as “return business”.

Wow must listen!

I have enjoyed every episode and found the speakers voice soothing and enjoyable. Maybe check your earbuds. I’m using bose. Furthermore, I felt her tone and intonation helped transmit the emotion. Episode 5 was a tear jerker towards the end. Please continue your important work!

Voice is unlistenable. Vocal fry, reaaaally hard s’s

Completely astounding that so many UNQUALIFIED people are allowed to be employed in an industry that is supposed to be dependent on qualifications and credentials. "Behavioral Therapists/Behavioral Technicians" that are not trained or credentialed, a company calling itself "educational", run by another person with no healthcare background, a complete recipe for disaster. Professionals trained in inpatient mental health care are aware of the propensity for violent behavior and trained in proper methods to deescalate.

so well reported with perfect mixture of empathy and fact. thank you!

I greatly appreciate you and your teams passion for pursuit of the truth and I think the world would be better informed if programs like this were more publicized. (Just a small language note, at least twice in your narration you referred to what is technically called a lectern as a podium)

I am very grateful for this podcast. I remember vividly when Mr Kinsey was shot. It is difficult to describe how devastating it was to learn that he was trying to protect an autistic young man, just a few years older than my son, AND to learn that the police officer had intended to “shoot the one with autism.” Fortunately my son lives with me but if I were to die, I’m afraid for him. This podcast was well worth listening to and I highly recommend it for the inside look at the scarcity of services available. The reporter did an excellent job connecting with Arnaldo’s mother and sister, and giving a fully rounded view of Arnaldo.

Aftereffect is well researched and brilliantly reported. However, the story told is hearbreaking not only for the family involved but for all of those similarly affected. It is also a sad commentary on our ability as a nation to effectively deal with disabilities.

Because of the way they don’t mention or talk about the 911 caller at all. She is totally 100% to blame for making that false call—should’ve just minded her own business but no idea why she needed to butt herself into this and get three people traumatized (cop, Arnoldo, and caretaker). I hope karma bites back

Thank you so much for doing this. So many average people do not have any insight in to the complex, rewarding, and heartbreaking world of services for people with developmental and physical disabilities. I hope this gets to many more avid podcast listeners so they can learn more about this.

This show is riveting. It starts out sounding like true crime, but then you discover a whole new world. Makes me crazy that our society can’t figure out how to best support people with autism.

Thank you so much for focusing an entire season on the faulty system we have in this country for not only caring for people with developmental disabilities, but also respecting who they are and valuing their incredible strengths. I am a board-certified music therapist who works with a lot of wonderful folks in residential homes just like those mentioned in the show. It is really refreshing to hear such a well-researched podcast that cares enough to include the preferred language of the neurodiversity movement. Amazing work!

I am a high school multiple disabilities teacher. Thank you for showing the REAL story. Excellent reporting. I am so thrilled that you are trying to teach the public about this population!! I love my students!!

Thank you for shining a light on ALL of this!

I love this podcast. Seriously: A must-listen.