Pass Senator Schumer’s legislation “Avonte’s Law”
Avonte’s Law will create an entirely new grant program within the Department of Justice that will be available to local law enforcement, schools and non-profits that aim to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The bill will authorize $10,000,000 federal dollars in order to help fund the purchase of voluntary tracking devices for children with ASD, education and training for parents, schools and local law enforcement, as well as other innovative methods that will assist families of children who “wander” with ASD. With this additional funding, families and local entities can work together to find the best possible solution for each individual child with ASD.
https://www.change.org/p/u-s-congress-pass-senator-s-schumer-s-legislation-avonte-s-law
– 49% of children with autism engage in wandering behaviors
– 35% attempt to wander at least once per week
– More than one third of children with autism who wander are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number
– 29% of wandering happens from a classroom or school
– 53% of those who exhibited elopement behavior, went missing long enough to cause concern
– 42% of cases involving a child with autism 9 and younger end in death
– Accidental drowning accounts for approximately 90% of lethal outcomes