Please, help me reunite with my child

Hello,

I am an Autistic mother requesting your help to salvage my parental

rights. I am facing disability discrimination in the Maryland family

courts and I’ve recently lost custody of my child without a credible

explanation. Although my state is one of the few that has enacted laws to protect

the custodial rights of parents with disabilities

https://disabilityrightsmd.org/sb-765-signed-into-law-protects-against-child-custody-discrimination/, being Autistic still makes for an uphill

battle as up to 80% of parents with developmental disabilities are stripped of

their custodial rights nationwide.

https://medicalkidnap.com/2019/12/12/40-to-80-of-parents-in-u-s-with-intellectual-disabilities-lose-custody-of-their-children/

I have also been the victim of vindictive litigation for the past nine years, a

malicious form of retaliation employed by mostly controlling men to

punish women in the court systems.

https://fullerproject.org/story/family-court-mothers-child-abuse/

Family courts have long favored fathers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/myths-about-custody-litigation/2017/12/15/61951bc4-e0e6-11e7-b2e9-8c636f076c76_story.html

It appears that when a man is abusive and/or controlling, there’s an even stronger bias against the women in these cases. https://wamu.org/story/19/08/19/fathers-are-favored-in-child-custody-battles-even-when-abuse-is-alleged/, https://stopabusecampaign.org/2020/01/06/gaslighting-by-the-courts/

Also of great concern, courts appear to have been incentivized to

favor fathers via federal guidelines which impact grants to child

protection agencies as detailed in the following memorandum

entitled “Integrating Approaches that Prioritize and Enhance Father

Engagement”, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families:

" The purpose of this information memorandum (IM) is to strongly

encourage all human service agencies including child welfare agencies,

courts, offices of child support enforcement, offices of public

assistance, offices of child care, Head Start programs, and family and

youth services programs to work together across governments

to jointly create and maintain an environment that prioritizes father

engagement as a critical factor in strengthening families and adopt

approaches to enhance paternal involvement in all family support and

child welfare related programs "

https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/integrating-approaches-prioritize-and-enhance-father-engagement

With respect to the family courts, this guidance appears to be

misconstrued to empower abusive males petitioning for custody.

Whether that was the intention or not is irrelevant as the impact is

undeniable.

https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/07/29/896692057/lawmakers-and-experts-recommend-changes-to-maryland-s-child-custody-court

As for my case, there is a mountain of evidence that challenges the

fitness of my ex. At the beginning of our battle, a psychological

evaluation was administered at his behest. The evaluation found that

my ex should not have physical custody and concluded that he had

issues with rage. I have provided medical documentation providing

that my child suffered unreported bodily harm while in the care of his

father. The court ignored these findings and other red flags. In another

round of litigation, a BIA (Best Interest Attorney) was assigned to the

case and relentlessly advocated for the father. She overlooked evidence of

the father’s neglect. After I informed the BIA of my disability, my

lawyer told me that the BIA recommended that the father have sole

custody. However, on the day of the trial, the BIA recommended joint

custody with a split school week as an incentive to settle the case.

Having this "option" as opposed to appearing before a judge who often

made negative statements about my “body language” and clearly didn't like me, I felt I had no choice but to settle.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/business-torts-unfair-competition/articles/2019/summer2019-dont-feel-pressured-to-settle-a-case/

The emotional manipulation of believing that I would lose my child,

then, in less than 24 hours being offered an opportunity for more time

with my child via settlement is in itself abuse perpetrated by the court.

https://www.mrcustodycoach.com/blog/when-settling-child-custody-bad-deal

As I’ve stated, my case is ongoing. I have not shared the most

heinous aspects of my case out of fear, and I believe I must conceal my

identity for the protection of both me and my child. Because of my battles in the courts, I am facing mounting fees. The constant litigation has exhausted my resources and left me unable to address my own pressing needs for health and dental care.

I would appreciate any assistance you could provide to help me in my fight to

regain custody of my son.

Thank you,

Aisha X

***UPDATE*** My team is currently working to set up a legal trust for donations. Thank you all for your support!