The Politics of Autism discusses the dangers facing autistic people, including wandering.
Patricia Davis at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
There’s been a dramatic spike in drownings of children with autism this summer, with three more kids drowning just this week, raising the total to 26 children.
“It’s been the worst summer on record for autism and wandering in terms of fatalities,” said Lori Mcllwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association (NAA), whose son has autism. “We’re trying to get the word out to parents to be extra vigilant. We usually see two or three deaths per month on average. Now we’re seeing two or three a week.”
Today, in conjunction with NAA, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), is releasing an urgent alert to remind the public and first responders to SEARCH WATER FIRST when a child with autism is missing. Children with autism often wander, or bolt, from safe environments and many are drawn to water.
John Bischoff, who oversees our Missing Children Division, said NCMEC knew we had to do something more when we saw this shocking increase.
“We want to urge people to be more vigilant,” Bischoff said. “It’s important that everyone understands what to do in these fast-moving situations, not just the families of these children. You could save a life.”
Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel:
Children with autism are especially susceptible to the risk of drowning, as they tend both to wander away and to be attracted to water, experts say. That has led advocates to push for specialized swim lessons attuned to those kids’ situations, but much more needs to be done.
So far this year, 23 children with autism have died by drowning in Florida, including six in Central Florida, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. Those deaths account for nearly 30% of the 81 such deaths reported in 2024 in Florida, which leads the nation in childhood drowning.
