URGENT ALERT: Record drownings of kids with autism

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.” 

At his home in Boise, Idaho, during his 5th birthday party, Matthew Glynn was surrounded by loving family members and friends celebrating his big day. In an instant, he was gone.  

Boise police knew to focus their search on water and issued a “Code Red” alert to cell phones and landlines within an eight-mile radius and used scent dogs, ATVs, dive teams and drones to search for the non-speaking child wearing Batman pajamas. They played the nursery rhyme, “Wheels on the Bus,” in the hopes Matthew would respond by making loud noises to his favorite song.  

Matthew, who vanished just before 6 p.m., was found nearly 20 hours later about a half mile from his home in a canal. He had drowned.  

Tragically, the traumatic scene in Boise has been playing out in many communities across the country this summer with 26 drowning deaths of children with autism, just since June 1, according to the NAA. And these are just the cases they know about. There are likely many more, Mcllwain said. 

Bodycam captures Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy rescuing a 5-year-old girl who wandered from her Tampa home and walked straight into a swampy area in her summer dress.

In Tampa, when a 5-year-old girl vanished, an alarm alerted her dad that she had taken off.  Parents often go to great lengths to keep their children safe, sometimes sleeping by their beds, buying special door locks, alarms and tracking devices, even nailing windows shut, a safety hazard itself.  

Most of the children who drowned this summer were nine or younger and were found in natural bodies of water, particularly ponds, Mcllwain said. In addition to 26 drownings, there’ve been 12 very close calls and some “extraordinary rescues” in which the missing children were rescued in water when they were found, she said.  One child was hospitalized in intensive care and, in another case, the father drowned trying to save his child. The aunt was able to pull the child to safety. 

On the same day that Matthew’s body was found in a canal, a 5-year-old boy was rescued after he wandered from his home in Florida and made it into a pond. “I thank God a lot for putting me in that position,” said Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy Wes Brough, who spotted the child in the pond and brought him to safety.

“These rescues have been in the nick of time,” said Mcllwain. “We tell everyone to call 911 immediately. Avoid going door to door – search all nearby water first. Those first few minutes, even seconds, are critical.” 

Like the birthday boy in Boise, children will often wander from family gatherings, sometimes to get away from the noise and sensory stimulation. Mcllwain said family gatherings are one of the highest risk factors in these tragic cases, and singing happy birthday is a common trigger. With a large group of people, it can be easy to think someone else is watching the child, and by the time they become aware the child is missing, the child has already gotten a head start. 

Most instances of wandering occur during warmer months when children are playing outside or when they’re in unfamiliar places on vacation or after a move. Despite the best efforts of first responders in Boise, Matthew was one step ahead of them – even in his bare feet, walking or running on his tip toes, as he would do, for half a mile. Police Chief Ron Winegar had urged the public to check their surveillance cameras for any glimpses of the boy. 

“We are heartbroken over this development today,” the police chief said on Aug. 6, the day Matthew’s body was recovered from the canal. “The water was initially our biggest concern and a large focus of our efforts. We want to thank our many partners for their response as well as the public for their willingness to help another member of our community in a time of need.” 

Here at NCMEC, we offer training and special search protocols for law enforcement and first responders to follow when a report comes in that a child on the autism spectrum is missing.  

We also provide resources to help communities host Sensory Friendly Events to foster positive relationships and understanding to better support children on the autism spectrum. For downloadable information and tips go to: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/autism 

The NAA also offers free prevention resources and safety tips for parents, relatives and caregivers, including a family emergency plan to help families and neighbors pre-organize response strategies. Go to https://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/wandering/)