In a Detroit News Op-Ed, Megan Bonanni Warns of Abuse Risks Facing Autistic Children in Therapy Programs

In a newly published op-ed in The Detroit News, Partner Megan Bonanni sheds light on the serious abuse risks that autistic children can face within therapy programs when proper safeguards fail. Drawing on her experience, Megan details a case she litigated involving a six-year-old nonverbal autistic child who was repeatedly physically and verbally abused by staff at a Michigan autism treatment center — abuse captured on surveillance footage and witnessed by other young autistic children in the room. 

Megan explains why autistic children are particularly vulnerable in institutional settings — many are nonverbal or struggle to communicate harm, and behavioral challenges can make misconduct easier to disguise as "discipline." She also examines the systemic failures that allow abuse to persist, including inadequate supervision, insufficient training, and institutions that prioritize protecting their reputation over reporting abuse to authorities. 

But Megan's message is ultimately one of accountability and reform. She proposes four strategies: stronger oversight and licensing requirements, independent monitoring and recording policies, rigorous staff training and screening, and serious enforcement of mandatory reporting laws. Her litigation work is driven not only by justice for individual families, but by a belief that exposing systemic failures is how we make these programs safer for every child. 

“As April marks Autism Awareness Month, it is an important moment to examine not only the benefits of autism therapy programs, but the serious risks children can face when safeguards fail.” 

Read the full piece here: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2026/04/16/bonanni-autistic-children-face-abuse-risks-in-therapy-programs-opinion/89611095007/