Avonte’s Law - Autism Tracking Device Proposal

Absolutely, Rochelle. I wished such a device were around when my son was young. He has autism and at a very young age had an almost magnetic affinity for the highway and high places. I would go on every school field trip with him, not only because I believe in being an involved parent. I was the only one who could devote 100% of my time to monitoring his movements and catching him when he would make a run for the road. My experience as a parent of a child with autism was frightening for his whereabouts. Thankfully he has grown out of this wandering behavior and is a promising young man with a blackbelt in karate and on track in his high school criminal justice path. It breaks my heart to hear about Avonte's story. But something very good can come from this that will protect children with severe disorders.

Jackie Taylor, SME

Evidence-based Professional Development CoP

Hi, Rochelle -

Thanks for highlighting this issue.  I think it's a fascinating question to raise, and one that's likely to solicit very different responses from individuals.  I think the idea is a good one, which many families will benefit from, but I also have concerns based on my experience working with adolescents on the spectrum.  The fact that the devices will be worn on the individual's clothing make me question whether they will be able to prevent incidents like the one in New York. 

I wonder if something like a free phone App would be an option instead - especially for older students and/or higher function students? This would minimize the chances of it being lost, or left in a coat pocket, and not worn by a student when it's most needed.  My other concern is whether students who are dually diagnosed with mental health issues may be adversely affected by this type of monitoring, as it could easily play into feelings of paranoia.  In these cases, I think the pros and cons would have to be weighed by the individual and their care team to make the best choice. 

Ultimately, I think the decision whether to use this type of tracking device - as it's currently planned - should be considered alongside of other Assistive Technology (AT) that will support students on the spectrum in learning to monitor and evaluate their surroundings, and increase communication with their families and care team.

Again, great topic for discussion!

Mike

Rochelle and All,

I think this would be very helpful for parents whose children wander, and also for those who care for older adults with alzheimer's or dementia. My son, who is non-verbal, has a tendency to "escape" and wander away, and I would be very interested in having a device like this! I agree with Michael, however, that attaching something to clothing would not be the best mechanism. People who wander do not always dress before doing so! 

I also think that some kind of government policy--whether attached to a device like this or not--would be a good idea. At the very least, there should be programs that connect local police and hospitals to a registry of families who have a wanderer, with ID pictures and contact information. But yes, an actual tracker would be really nice to have!

Thanks for telling us about this law!

Julie