“I don’t want my child to die,” the words left my quivering lips during a recent meeting at my son's school. I eventually left that meeting in tears.

My son will attend high school in the fall, and while that may be a joyous transition for some, I am afraid. I am afraid because he is a Black and Mexican child who presents as a typical teen and is met with impatience and aggression from those who do not know him.

His behavior could be seen as a threat and might be met with violence by authorities. It's not an idle concern. Children like my son are seven times more likely to encounter police than “neurotypical” individuals.

Just one example of how quickly and horrifically things can go wrong: In March, sheriff's deputies in San Bernardino County, California, responded to a 911 call made by the mother of 15-year-old Ryan Gainer. Ryan, who was diagnosed with autism, reportedly was having an episode and approached deputies holding a large gardening tool. Two deputies shot and killed the teenager.

In 2012, while stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, my military family's life took an unexpected turn. It was the year my oldest son was diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder, and later,........

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