AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Municipal Court has a special program to help people with developmental disabilities, and the judge who runs it is receiving an award for the work that program does. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Judge Ron Cable started the Connect Program in Akron Municipal Court in 2022

  •  The Cconnect Program helps people with developmental disabilities navigate the court system

  • Cable is recieving an award for the work his program does

Judge Ron Cable presides over the Akron Municipal Court's Family Intervention Court and has a history of helping those who come before him.

“Folks with developmental disabilities, Autism, Down Syndrome sometimes they have difficulty understanding," Cable said. "They have a difficult time controlling their emotions."

Cable started the Connect Program in Akron Municipal Court in 2022.

“Prior to this they were treated like any other defendant and oftentimes their punishment may include jail or some other probation. In my opinion folks who commit misdemeanor crimes that are developmentally disabled, jail doesn’t really do a lot of good for them," he said. "Oftentimes they come out worse than they went in."

Cable’s program is able to help with resources as part of a participant’s case plan.

“Sometimes maybe they’re in the wrong work environment. Maybe they’re in a group home that doesn’t really suit them. Maybe their medication is off and they need to go see the doctor,” he said.

For Cable the mission is somewhat personal. His 26-year-old son has Autism.  

“I always wondered what would happen if he took something from a store or do something that he didn’t understand was wrong—what would happen to him?” Cable said. 

Judge Cable is being honored for his work in this program by Milestones National Autism Conference 2024 Professional Excellence Award. 

“In Judge Cable’s case it’s pretty neat because he’s not someone who is working specifically in the developmental disabilities field," said Bradley Wyner, director of education at Milesones Autism Resources. "He is using his role on the bench to increase quality of life for people with all sorts of disabilities."

“They have to spend a year, at least with me. They have to be monitored and they have to attend all the sessions and they have to attend all their meetings—whatever is in their case plan,” Cable said. 

Cable says he hopes other jurisdictions will implement a program like Connect to help people with developmental disabilities. 

“The way this group of folks was treated before, we just weren’t doing them justice,” Cable said.