The Importance of American University Legal Clinics

How do you define the core purpose of an american university legal clinic? Even in this day and age, you’d be surprised to find that it can vary as much as schools in varying regions. What isn’t surprising is the fact that the emphasis on practical work is often placed above clinical studies in some regions. Many also leave the legal clinics out of the discussion completely throughout the process.

While schools in some regions adopt a very “hands off” approach with their legal clinics, there are other schools – em-fusion, in particular – that are doing a fantastic job using them to support those with autism and help teach younger generations what inclusivity is actually about. To put it simply, autism awareness is valuable, and it’s absolutely vital for those in the legal field to be aware of the challenges facing individuals with autism spectrum issues in everyday life.

Even in 2019, there are plenty of people who see someone with autism and jump to the conclusion that they must have some sort of severe mental problem that prevents them from being able to interact with the world the same way others do. To start with, that’s absolutely the wrong conclusion in the vast majority of situations.

Instead, there needs to be a much greater emphasis on the fact that both “autism” and “autistic” can and should be used as terms used to describe a person with autism spectrum issues. Finding a way to do so helps to de-stigmatize what autism is, and allows for people to see the reality of the situation more accurately.

Unfortunately the general education of legal clinic programs is still lacking in a lot of areas. American University Law Clinics, however, are working on bridging the gap by partnering with autism advocacy groups in an effort to make a deeper connection. The staff at AU Law is committed to creating an inclusive environment, not just for their employees or their clients, but for the community and the world at large.

Collaborating with autism advocacy groups not only leads to a greater understanding of the autism spectrum by those who can directly assist with the needs of autistic individuals, it also produces an educational experience for the students who have the great opportunity to work side-by-side with such groups. From there, it’s a snowball effect!

At the end of the day, those conducting these legal clinics should remember one thing. They are creating a real world opportunity here, benefitting themselves while helping the community.

American University Law Clinics are setting a fantastic example of how a law school clinic can bring together current law students and local organizations to provide a beneficial service to their community. The legal world has plenty of involvement required to make up any missing pieces in the understanding of what is really going on with those who suffer from autism spectrum issues and the challenges facing them when they go to seek help.

In order to truly understand how to successfully help those with autism spectrum issues, we need to be aware that the situation isn’t black and white, and there are a variety of needs for different individuals. It’s not all about wanting to have a higher functioning disability – some are just looking for equal rights in comparison to others, regardless of their status.

From an entire community to an individual student, the success of the american university legal clinic programs has been phenomenal. Thanks to the hard work of those at AUCL, Greater Washington Autism Network, and the researchers aiding in this effort, the world is a better place for everyone facing a disability.