As an individual impacted by the current Texas family law, and what my 5 years old autistic non verbal child voice has not been heard in court. I am pushing forward for a crucial amendment. My plea stems from a deeply personal experience with my 5-year-old non-verbal autistic child. Despite the substantial evidence presented before the court, her father, who was initially under supervision, was granted unsupervised visitation rights by the court. This took a turn for the worse when he quit his job to avoid paying child support.

The accessibility to unsupervised visitations should call for rigorous scrutiny, particularly when the individual was previously required to have supervised visitations. We propose that anyone who has been under supervised visitation be put through psychological evaluation prior to being granted unsupervised visits. It would help ensure the child is safe and in capable hands, especially for children who have special needs.

In a report by the American Psychological Association, it has been detailed that about four out of ten children in unsupervised visits are at risk of experiencing various forms of harm. Furthermore, according to a study conducted by Northwestern University, unpaid child support in the United States cumulatively amounts to over $114 billion.

The two issues of child support and visitation rights are often treated differently, but for the sake of the child's wellbeing, Texas law should intertwine them. This will ensure that individuals quit jobs to evade child support do not gain unsupervised visitation rights. The best interests of the child must always be the primary factor that Texas courts consider when granting custody or visitation rights.

Join our cause for the sake of so many children who depend on the system to have their best interests at heart. Together, we can transform the family law in Texas for a more secure future for our children. Please sign this petition for an amendment that would make a real difference.