My name is Paula Gauthier, and I am the mother of Matthew Dusseault — a young man who was wrongfully convicted after being questioned without the protection he deserved.

Matthew was only 18 years old when police brought him in for questioning. He had a documented intellectual disability with an IQ of 68 — the level of a child around 10 to 12 years old in terms of reasoning, comprehension, and emotional understanding. He didn’t fully grasp what was happening, what his rights meant, or how his words could later be twisted against him. He was questioned for hours, pressured, and ultimately convicted — even though the evidence didn’t prove guilt.

Matthew has never been violent, and continues to maintain his innocence. But his story is not unique. Across the country, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — those who process and understand the world differently — are being questioned by police without protection, without understanding, and without a voice in the room to defend them. If a person with visible Down syndrome were brought into a police station, officers would immediately recognize the need for help or accommodation. But when a disability isn’t visible — such as autism, low IQ, or cognitive delays — individuals like Matthew are left vulnerable, scared, and unaware of what’s at stake.

Studies show that individuals with intellectual disabilities are seven times more likely to encounter the criminal justice system. Yet most officers lack the training to recognize or appropriately respond to their needs, leading to false confessions, wrongful convictions, and lifelong injustice. It’s time for that to change.

We are calling on lawmakers, police departments, and justice reform advocates to implement critical protections:

• Mandatory disability awareness and sensitivity training for all law enforcement officers. 
• Required presence of a trained advocate during any questioning of an individual with a documented intellectual or developmental disability.
• Reform of interrogation protocols to prevent coercion and ensure that the individual truly understands their rights and the situation. 

Our loved ones deserve dignity, protection, and fairness — not fear and confusion behind closed doors. Please sign and share this petition to demand that police questioning laws be updated nationwide to protect people with intellectual disabilities from coercion and injustice. Together, we can give a voice to those who cannot always speak for themselves. #JusticeForMatthew #DisabilityRights #PoliceReform