Episode 28 / Increasing Safety for Individuals with Autism with Diana Orem, Ph.D., MS.

In this episode, Staci Whitney, LMSW and MCG Senior Consultant Kate Homan, MS are joined by the Chair of the Forensic Psychology Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Dr. Diana Orem, Ph.D., MS. Drawing from her own experiences, Diana explains her shift to working with individuals with disabilities and vulnerable populations. She developed a training protocol for Law Enforcement and First Responders in Yavapai County, Arizona that increases safety, produces better outcomes, and reduces violence when interacting with individuals with Autism in the course of their work.

Dr. Diana Orem holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Central Florida. She is a licensed psychologist with expertise in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental conditions. Her research entails identifying at-risk populations who are negatively impacted by legal-forensic issues as well as developing and evaluating law enforcement training. Dr. Orem is the Chair of the Forensic Psychology Program at ERAU. She teaches courses in forensic psychology, criminality, victimology, mental health in the criminal justice system, drugs, and deception. She also writes forensic reports and provides testimony for the King County Department of Public Defense, WA. Additionally, Dr. Orem provides training to law enforcement on how to safely approach autistic individuals.