Sheletta Brundidge organized a giveaway in Houston, Texas to provide specialized door locks to families with autistic children in order to keep them safe. The initiative comes as first responders are being trained to prioritize searching bodies of water when an autistic child goes missing, following a concerning rise in drowning deaths among this population in 2024. Policies like Kentucky’s “Ian Alert” and Ohio’s proposed “Joshua Alert” are being implemented to improve response protocols and prevent future tragedies.
The story of Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., a 6-year-old boy with autism who drowned in a pond, highlights the heartbreaking reality that many families face. His mother, Jonisa Cook, is advocating for change through her involvement in an Ohio missing persons group and her petition to establish a new alert system for missing children with spectrum disorders. Experts are uncertain about the sudden increase in drowning deaths among autistic children in 2024, but emphasize the importance of educating parents and first responders to check bodies of water first when a child with autism goes missing.
While the number of drowning deaths among autistic children has increased, there has also been a rise in successful rescues due to increased awareness and training. Organizations like the National Autism Association are leading campaigns to spread awareness and train first responders to effectively respond to missing autistic children. Cook’s efforts to start a foundation in her son’s name and improve resources for families with autistic children demonstrate a commitment to preventing future tragedies and providing support to those in need.
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