US launches national alert framework for missing autistic individuals
The US health department has launched a national initiative to improve emergency response for missing autistic individuals and reduce preventable deaths.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new national initiative aimed at improving how authorities respond when autistic individuals go missing. The move, unveiled on Friday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., seeks to strengthen coordination between emergency management agencies, law enforcement, first responders, and community organisations across the country.
The National Autism Missing and Endangered Person Alert Initiative will establish a framework of best practices designed to address the leading causes of preventable injury and death among autistic people. A key focus is accidental drowning, which is often linked to wandering or elopement—behaviours where an individual leaves a safe environment without supervision.
The announcement follows recommendations made by an interagency autism committee during an April 28 meeting. Those suggestions included enhanced screening for co-occurring medical conditions and the development of federal guidance specifically addressing wandering and elopement.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects approximately one in 31 children in the United States.
Beyond the alert initiative, HHS is also releasing a broader set of coordinated actions intended to improve safety, healthcare, and services for autistic individuals at every stage of life.