post

Missing girl found quickly thanks to ‘Project Lifesaver’

(WKYC) MANSFIELD, Ohio — A missing 8-year-old girl was located safely Tuesday thanks to an ankle monitor.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Office says the child was initially reported missing at 6:17 p.m. in the area of 380 W. 4th Street in Mansfield.

She was found 22 minutes later.

The ankle monitor the child was wearing is part of “Project Lifesaver.”

“It’s a project that takes steps to ensure the safe return of people who go missing,” the sheriff’s office says in a news release. “The project uses a tracking system to locate people who are likely to wander, including those with autism, Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

Read more at: http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/ohio/missing-girl-found-quickly-thanks-to-project-lifesaver/307055049

post

7-year-old boy with autism in critical condition after near drowning

UPDATE: (KUTV) Seven year-old Aiden Nuzzo of St. George, who was found in the bottom of a motel swimming pool, on Monday morning, passed away late Tuesday night at Primary Children’s hospital according to the boy’s grandfather, Dennis Farr.

St. George, UT – Aiden Nuzzo, 7, of St. George, was in critical condition at Primary Children’s Hospital after he was found in the bottom of a motel swimming pool.

His grandparents, Dennis and Catherine Farr, said it was not clear whether is brain would respond.

“We are praying really hard that a miracle will happen,” said Catherine Farr.

Aiden and his mother Celia were staying at the Coronada Hotel in St. George on Monday morning. The two were sleeping, according to his grandparents, when Aiden, who is autistic and very physically active, got up while his mother slept and walked out the door.

When mom awakened and realized he was gone, she called 911.

Read more at http://kutv.com/news/local/7-year-old-boy-in-critical-condition-after-near-drowning

post

Authorities find missing Duncan boy’s body

STEPHENS COUNTY, Okla. — After 14 days of searching, authorities have found a body that they believe belongs to 8-year-old Damion Alexander Davidson.

Davidson, who has autism, went missing sometime after 2 a.m. from his home on June 12th.

It was storming that morning and his parents told authorities they believe he left the house because he likes thunderstorms.

They say they found two beanbags pushed up against the front door that morning.

Read more at http://kfor.com/2016/06/25/authorities-believe-to-have-found-missing-duncan-boy/

post

Body of Missing Girl Alexis Wartena Officially Identified

Amarillo, TX – Alexis Wartena, a non-verbal autistic girl, went missing in Amarillo around 3 p.m. on July 19th. She and her family were staying at La Kiva Motel. The police were notified around 5 p.m. and began searching in all of the surrounding areas, including T-Anchor Lake, which is located right behind La Kiva Motel.

Divers uncovered a body on July 20th from T-Anchor Lake.

Read More: Body of Missing Girl Alexis Wartena Officially Identified | http://kissfm969.com/family-says-body-found-in-lake-belongs-to-alexis-wartena/?trackback=tsmclip

post

Autistic girl found drowned at Grand Lake St. Marys

Celina, OH – A ten year old autistic girl is dead after drowning in a channel at Kozy Kampground at Grand Lake St. Marys.

It’s believed Jade Riggs, walked behind her mobile home on SR 703 and fell in a channel at the campgrounds.

She was last seen around 5:30 this morning when her grandfather left for work.

She was reported missing a little more than two hours later.

More than 90 first responders searched the area woods, fields and water for the girl.

Just before 2 p.m., firefighters found the lifeless body of the girl in the channel.

Read more at: http://www.hometownstations.com/story/32514952/autistic-girl-found-drowned-at-grand-lake-st-marys 

post

Missing 5-year-old by found dead in Lehigh Canal

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Lehigh County Coroner has confirmed that the body of a missing 5-year-old autistic boy has been recovered from the Lehigh Canal. Family members, friends, volunteers and police officers had been searching since Thursday night for Jayliel Vega, who went missing around 11 p.m. Friday afternoon, a bloodhound tracked the boy’s scent to the area of the America On Wheels Museum, located at Hamilton and North Front streets, but police were unable to find Vega.

Read more from WFMZ.com at: http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/Local/coroner-confirms-body-of-missing-5-year-old-boy-found-in-lehigh-canal/37234666

Autism Safety Coalition Applauds Senate Passage of Kevin and Avonte’s Law

PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

July 14, 2016

Autism Safety Coalition Applauds U.S. Senate’s Passage of Kevin & Avonte’s Law to Combat Wandering Deaths

Washington, DC – The Autism Safety Coalition (ASC) applauds the passage of S. 2614, Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016, to address wandering incidents and fatalities in children with developmental disabilities. Introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), the bipartisan bill would ensure that grants from the U.S. Department of Justice can be used by state and local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits for education and training programs to proactively prevent and locate missing individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Because police often are the first people to respond when a child goes missing, the bill also will make resources available to equip first responders and other community officials with the training necessary to better prevent and respond to these cases.

Wandering behaviors are considered common and short-lived in toddlers, but may persist or re-emerge in individuals with disabilities. A 2015 study found that 27% of children with developmental disabilities are reported to wander (or “elope”) from safe settings each year. In 2015, 31 individuals with autism died after wandering away from a safe setting.

To learn more about S. 2614, Kevin and Avonte’s Law, visit congress.gov.

Contact:
Wainie Youn, Autism Society: (301) 657-0881
Nick Galbraith, Autism Speaks: (202) 499-0843
Camille Proctor, The Color of Autism Foundation: (313) 444-9035
Wendy Fournier, National Autism Association: (877) 622-2884
Lisa Wiederlight, SafeMinds: (202) 780-9821
Kristen McKiernan, The Arc: (202) 534-3712

-30-

post

Autism & Wandering: It Happens in Every Community

Autism & Wandering: It Happens in Every Community

By Camille Proctor, Color of Autism Foundation

In 2006, I gave birth to a beautiful little boy name Ari and fell in love. Two years later, Ari was diagnosed with autism and exhibits many of its unique behaviors. One such behavior is “wandering,” one of the most frightening behaviors of all.

In the summer of 2008, Ari slipped out of the home while I was using the restroom. Once I realized he was gone, I ran out of the house frantically calling for him. I remember it was raining and a car pulled up. Thankfully, it was my neighbor with Ari and my dog, Boo. She found Boo (who I didn’t realize was missing) sitting on top of Ari on the grass on the other side of the cul-de-sac. I was so grateful to my neighbor for rescuing my son. I was equally grateful to Boo for her instinct to protect and follow Ari. Not knowing that wandering was associated with autism, I shrugged this incident off, not expecting it to re-occur.

The next incident happened in the spring of 2009 when Ari turned the lock on the door that led to our garage, pressed the garage-door button, and bolted. Once again Boo sprung into action and caught Ari a few feet away from our home. The most recent incident was in the summer of 2010. I was taking groceries out of my car when Ari crawled out the hatch-back and ran toward the exit of my gated community. This time a neighbor brought him home and scolded me for being a “bad parent.” Another neighbor told me I needed to get Ari in check, a second neighbor just shook her head, and a third showed us compassion. I thanked them, and became very upset because the two reprimands I received were from my African American neighbors accusing me of bad parenting and the only person that seemed to understand was white. A few weeks later I saw my African American neighbors who supplied the unsolicited advice and I again thanked them for saving Ari. I tried to explain that Ari has autism and wanders. I was met with opposition and was told that “black” kids don’t wander.

The reality is that any child can wander and that “any” includes African American children. Ari hasn’t wandered off since 2010, but there’s still a very high likelihood that he may attempt to wander again. Our home is equipped with door alarms and sensors. The threat of wandering will always be present, and while Ari has been swimming since age two, he’s no match for a strong water current. He also lacks the safety skills to avoid other wandering-related dangers like oncoming traffic.

As parents, our job is to protect our children and keep them out of harm’s way. As advocates, we must spread the word in our local communities, educate, and do everything we can to help protect our most vulnerable citizens. I didn’t know wandering could happen. And according to a 2012 study in Pediatrics, I’m not alone. Only 50% of caregivers reported receiving advice or guidance from a professional on how to prevent wandering. You can be certain that number is much lower in underserved communities. So let’s get out there and do our part to reach every caregiver with this vital information. It just may save a life.

For ways to prevent wandering, visit http://awaare.org or http://autismsafetycoalition.org/find-resources/.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT AUTISM-RELATED WANDERING

Similar to wandering behaviors in the Alzheimer’s community, wandering and elopement behaviors in children and adults with autism have led to countless tragedies across the country.

A 2012 Pediatrics study showed that 49% of children with autism attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings.

It also found that more than one third of children with autism who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number. Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury. Thirty-two percent of parents reported a “close call” with a possible drowning. Wandering was also ranked among the most stressful autism behaviors by 58% of parents of elopers. Half of families with elopers report they had never received advice or guidance about elopement from a professional.

According to the National Autism Association (NAA), accidental drowning accounts for approximately 90% of wandering deaths reported in children with autism, with a strong majority of deaths happening in a nearby pond, lake, creek or river. NAA also found that 42% of wandering cases involving a child with autism 9 and younger have ended in death.

Wandering is typically a form of communication — an “I need,” “I want,” or “I don’t want.” Someone with autism may wander to something of interest, especially water, or away from something that is bothersome, such as uncomfortable noise or bright lights.

Children and adults with autism wander from all types of settings, such as schools, residential homes, camp programs, public places, and home settings.

Wandering and elopement tend to increase in warmer months, especially in mid-section areas of the US where home layouts and routines are adapted to accommodate changing weather. To learn more about wandering, visit http://awaare.org.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

National Disability & Law Enforcement Groups Launch Campaign To Combat Wandering Deaths, Support Avonte’s Law

PRESS RELEASE:
For Immediate Release
June 15, 2015

National Disability & Law Enforcement Groups Launch Campaign To Combat Wandering Deaths, Support Avonte’s Law

Washington, DC – In light of the growing number of wandering-related deaths in the autism community, a group of national organizations have come together to support Senate Bill 163, Avonte’s Law. The group, the Autism Safety Coalition (ASC), announced today that its new social media campaign, “Yes to Avonte’s Law,” will also serve to educate the community and the public about the dangers of wandering behaviors in those with autism and other disabilities.

Introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Avonte’s Law Act of 2015 would help reduce the risk of injury and death relating to wandering behaviors in individuals with autism and other disabilities. “It would provide education, training, and resources to law enforcement agencies, first responders, schools, clinicians, and the public, “ says Lindsay Naeder of Autism Speaks. The law is named after Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old boy with autism who vanished from his New York City school in 2013. His body was discovered three months later in the East River.

Wandering behaviors are considered common and short-lived in very young children, but may persist or re-emerge in individuals with cognitive disabilities. According to a 2012 study released by the journal Pediatrics, 49% of children with autism wander/elope from safe supervision. Twenty-nine percent of cases occur from a classroom or school.  Tragically, cases involving a child with autism age 9 and younger have ended in death 42% of the time.

“This issue affects all genders, races and ages in the autism and greater disability community,” says Camille Proctor of the Color of Autism Foundation. “Avonte’s Law would help speak for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.”

According to the Autism Safety Coalition, Avonte’s Law would provide many of the same resources already available to prevent wandering and expedite the safe return of those with Alzheimer’s. “It’s a commonsense bill,” says Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association. “Children and adults with autism and other disabilities frequently wander from safe settings, often with tragic consequences. It’s time for federal action.”

Since the beginning of this month alone, six children with autism have died after wandering from a safe setting in Florida, New Hampshire, Texas, California and Illinois. “This is happening more than most people realize,” commented Tonia Ferguson of the Autism Society.

To take action on Avonte’s Law or to learn more, visit autismsafetycoalition.org.

Contact:
Wainie Youn, Autism Society: (301) 657-0881
Nick Galbraith, Autism Speaks: (202) 499-0843
Camille Proctor, The Color of Autism Foundation: (313) 444-9035
Wendy Fournier, National Autism Association: (877) 622-2884
Lisa Wiederlight, Safeminds: (202) 780-9821
Kristen McKiernan, The Arc: (202) 534-3712

-30-

Wandering Deaths Prompt Disability and Law Enforcement Groups to Form Autism Safety Coalition

Wandering in the autism community is a serious issue that is taking an increasing number of lives. In a 2012 study released by the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that 49% of children with autism wander/elope from safe supervision. According to the National Autism Association, cases involving a child with autism age 9 and younger have ended in death 42% of the time.

Since the beginning of this month alone, six children with autism have died after wandering from a safe setting.

To respond to this growing crisis, a group of national organizations have come together to form The Autism Safety Coalition (ASC). The group’s mission is to advocate for national policies that will increase the public safety of people with autism and other developmental disabilities, including support of Senate Bill 163, Avonte’s Law.

Introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Avonte’s Law Act of 2015 would help reduce the risk of injury and death relating to wandering behaviors in individuals with autism and other disabilities. “It’s a commonsense bill that will provide much-needed training, education, and access to critical resources,“ says Lisa Wiederlight of SafeMinds.

Since 2011, over 500 individuals with autism have gone missing long enough to prompt search efforts, some costing as much as $2 million for one search.

“Many of these children are drawn to water or other hazardous areas like active roadways or even trains,” says Robert Lowery of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “They also exhibit unique behaviors that make searching for them a challenge.”

“In addition to children and adults with autism, Avonte’s Law would help protect those with Down Syndrome and other disabilities,” says Heather Sachs of the National Down Syndrome Society. “Wandering is a serious issue in the Down Syndrome community, and we believe that this legislation will give schools and families more resources to keep children safe,” she says. In 2012, an 11-year-old girl with Down Syndrome died after wandering away from her school into a nearby pond.

If passed, Avonte’s Law would provide education, training, and resources to law enforcement and other first responder organizations, schools, clinicians, and the public. “This legislation is not about restricting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it is about giving them, their families, and communities the knowledge, resources, and tools to prevent and minimize the harm from wandering,” says Leigh Ann Davis of The Arc.

The law is named after Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old boy with autism who vanished from his New York City school in 2013. His body was discovered three months later in the East River.

Click here for more information about Avonte’s Law. For prevention resources, please visit the ASC resources page.