Working Together

Dr. Jennifer Todd (FGCU)

Dr. Jennifer Todd is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at FGCU with extensive experience in crisis intervention, social work education, and community-based collaboration. Her research and professional work have included Crisis Intervention Team training, law enforcement response to individuals in crisis, and the evaluation of strategies designed to improve safety, communication, and outcomes during high-stress encounters. Her perspective brings an important social work and research-based dimension to the GIDDI seminar on safe practice for individuals with IDD in crisis.

Bart Barta (Autism Safety 101)

Bart Barta is a nationally recognized instructor and subject matter expert in autism and law enforcement interactions, with more than 31 years of law enforcement experience and more than 20,000 first responders trained nationwide. A former SWAT Commander, Crisis Management Team Commander, and longtime Crisis Intervention Team instructor, he brings extensive firsthand experience in high-risk encounters, crisis response, and de-escalation. As President of Autism Safety 101 and the parent of an adult son with autism, Barta brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to improving interactions between first responders and individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Sgt. Brent Penix (Lee County Sheriff's Office)

Sgt. Brent Penix is a Training Sergeant with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in Criminal Justice. With a law enforcement career spanning multiple agencies and extensive experience preparing deputies for the realities of field response, he brings a practical, firsthand perspective on crisis situations, officer decision-making, and safe interactions with individuals with IDD.