Even if you aren’t the parent of an autistic child, you probably know someone with autism, whether a family member, friend, or colleague. Autism touches the lives of so many, it’s almost impossible not to know someone touched by the disorder, which can wreak havoc on everyone within the family. One problem these families face is the issue of wandering from home. How do you feel about the idea of autistic children being tracked with a GPS tracking device? Most people would agree that as long as the parents of that child approve, it is a great idea to ensure their safety.
What if I told you the federal government is proposing a plan where they will pay for your autistic child’s GPS tracking device? That’s right, Senator Chuck Schumer has proposed legislation named after the 14-year-old New York City boy, Avonte Oquendo, who was reported missing by his school a few months back and eventually found dead in a river. Do you still think it’s a good idea if the federal government is footing the bill?
Avonte’s Law
The law is named after Oquendo, and as it stands currently, it would offer $10 million total in order to fund the GPS tracking devices for autistic children. The devices could either be in bracelet form, slipped inside a backpack or wallet, or even sewn directly into the child’s clothing.
Avonte Oquendo was seen on surveillance video walking out the front doors of his school in Queens last October. After an extensive search, his body was sadly discovered in early January in the East River. An estimated 200 people turned out to mourn his passing at his funeral. It is still unclear what led to his death, but investigators are hard at work trying to determine that.
Senator Schumer, in a press conference held in his office in Manhattan with Avonte’s mother and grandmother by his side, said, “We can’t change the past, but we can take necessary steps to ensure we learn from this and put in place programs that will ensure that no parent and no child has to go through a similar nightmare in the future.”
A Growing Problem
Statistics published in a 2012 study conducted by the journal Pediatrics estimate that about half of America’s population of autistic children wander often, and over 60 autistic children have died since 2008 as a result of wandering. 90 percent of those who died wandering have drowned, according to the National Autism Association.
Autism advocate groups have been working hard to call attention to the issue of wandering. How big of an issue is it? The study indicates that about half of parents that have autistic children had received no advice from anyone, including professionals, on how to deal with the problem. However, most experts who are aware of the problem know that the best way to prevent wandering is by employing the use of a GPS tracking device.
“Lord knows, if we had known within a matter of minutes where this boy was when he had walked out in a school, we might not be here,” said an attorney for Avonte’s family, David Perecman, speaking for the family. “Never again.”
The Future For The Proposal
Schumer said he plans to introduce the legislation next Monday. It’s a lot like a similar program that has worked well for those battling Alzheimer’s, relying on an alert system the user programs via web interface. When a person with Alzheimer’s wanders, the GPS device they are wearing sends out an automatic call for police to respond quickly in order to keep them safely close to home. The GPS devices they plan to rely on will cost an estimated $85 plus associated monthly fees according to Senator Schumer. They have already proven worthwhile by the hundreds of families who have been using them without federal funding.
The executive director of Autism Speaks, Michael Rosen, was present for Schumer’s press conference, 26-year-old autistic son Nicky by his side. Rosen said that when Nicky was younger, “he would race across the street to a neighbor’s living room…and he’d end up all of a sudden tearing apart their living room, or he’d be across the street on a roof because he was attracted to heights. You can’t turn your back for one second.”
There is much support from autism advocacy groups, and with one in 88 American children being diagnosed somewhere on the autism spectrum in 2008, it’s easy to see why. Rosen blames the increase on a variety of factors, like more awareness, advances in medicine leading to better diagnoses, and learning about the different variations of autism.
This simple measure could save many lives all over the country, and restore peace of mind to many a frazzled, worried parent of a child with autism. How do you feel about the issue? Do you think this would be a bad idea for a federal government to get involved with, or is it vital to protecting the lives of children who don’t know any better? Let us know, comment below!
Federal Law Regarding GPS Tracking Of Autistic Children Debated
No comments:
Post a Comment