My name is Yolanda Cruz and I am the Founder and Program Director of LEAD Trainers, where I develop and deliver specialized training for law enforcement, first responders, schools, and mental health professionals. My expertise includes Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs, autism response, de-escalation strategies, and interactions involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I am a systems change leader, disability rights advocate, and public policy professional dedicated to improving outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). For more than 25 years, I have partnered with government agencies, law enforcement, educators, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to advance inclusive policies, strengthen crisis response systems, and promote equitable access to services.

I have also worked as the Regional Manager for the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, I lead strategic initiatives focused on policy analysis, systems advocacy, and community engagement throughout Southern California. My work centers on improving health, safety, inclusion, and justice outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities while building collaborative partnerships across local, state, and national organizations.

My work has taken me across the United States and internationally, including providing technical assistance in Spain to support the development of inclusive Crisis Intervention Team programs. I regularly present at national conferences and serve on numerous boards and committees dedicated to public safety, disability rights, and systems transformation.

Areas of Expertise:
• Disability Policy & Systems Advocacy
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs
• Law Enforcement & First Responder Training
• Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
• Public Policy & Legislative Advocacy
• Strategic Leadership
• Program Development & Management
• Community Collaboration
• Public Speaking & Professional Training
• Inclusion & Accessibility
• Emergency & Crisis Response
• Stakeholder Engagement
My mission is to create safer, more inclusive communities where people with disabilities are respected, understood, and supported through collaborative leadership and evidence-based practices.

Dr. Amber Doucette is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist, and the Clinical Director for California START Central Valley. As Clinical Director, Dr. Doucette strives to inspire her team, and her community to provide person-centered, trauma-informed support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, strengthening PERMA and resilience in their everyday lives. Through outreach and training, Dr. Doucette also provides psychoeducation to law enforcement, hospital staff, mental health clinicians and other community partners to ensure informed treatment and support while ensuring the safety of those within the I/DD community. In addition to her role as Clinical Director, her passion for helping and empowering others is exemplified through her decade of work as adjunct faculty for the Criminology Department at California State University, Fresno, where she utilizes the same fundamental principles to guide future generations entering law enforcement, and other criminology focused careers.

Scarlett vonThenen is an authority in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), with a tenure exceeding two decades. Her multifaceted career is marked by her commitment to advancing the quality of life for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through the provision of comprehensive training, technical assistance, capacity enhancement, and systemic change advocacy focused on improvements in process, practice, infrastructure, and policy.

In her role as a Public Agency Representative for the Orange County Child Care and Development Planning Council, Scarlett steers initiatives that significantly impact community standards and care quality for young children with disabilities. Her professional journey encompasses a broad spectrum of the I/DD sector, ranging from initiating early start services to advocating for the rights of adults with I/DD across various critical platforms, including special education, Regional Center, IHSS, Medicaid/healthcare meetings, and Social Security disability benefits appeals. Scarlett's commitment is to ensure that individuals with I/DD receive the respect, support, and opportunities they deserve.

Scarlett is a certified instructor for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) through the Academy Instructor Certification Course (AICC) as well as a certificated work incentives practitioner navigating the interplay between employment and Social Security work incentives.

Christman Bio

Officer Christopher Christman is a 29-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department, he is currently assigned to the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy as a TAC Officer.

As a TAC Officer, he is responsible for curriculum development and daily instruction of Basic Law Enforcement Academy classes/topics including: Social Contacts, Terry Stops and Probable Cause Arrests, Crisis Intervention Techniques, Multiple Officer Building Search, Traffic/High Risk Vehicle Stops, etc.

From 2017-2022, Officer Christman was a full-time instructor in the Seattle PD Education and Training Section, where he was the department’s lead CIT/De-Escalation instructor. In this role, he was responsible for developing and instructing SPD’s annual CIT curriculum for all sworn Seattle officers. He instructed on CIT related topics including Verbal De-Escalation, Tactical De-Escalation, Response to Suicidal Subjects and Law Enforcement & Autism. Officer Christman was also responsible for ensuring that SPD’s CIT/De-Escalation training met the requirements agreed upon in 2012 as part of SPD’s Settlement Agreement with the US Dept. of Justice.

Ofc. Christman has presented his classes on both a multi-state regional and National level including at the 2019/2021 CIT International Conferences and 2022 International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association Conference.

Additionally, in 2019 Ofc. Christman’s “Law Enforcement & Autism” class was selected by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center to be mandatory state-wide curriculum for every sworn law enforcement officer in Washington State.

Officer Christman has presented at many international conferences and has volunteered his time in California, presenting his Law Enforcement & Autism class.