The passage of “Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016” (TITLE I–MISSING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE PATIENT ALERT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION) will authorize a $2 million per year grant program that will be funded through the Department of Justice and used for education, safety, training, and response tools to help families and protect individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS), Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive conditions that are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering.
I fully support the progress that is being made by Senator Schumer and his team on the introduction of the “Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016”.
Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016 will provide the needed funding for training and technology to caregivers and first responders for the express and specific purpose of protecting, and when necessary, locating and safely returning, individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive conditions that are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering.
Project Lifesaver was the first organization to address the issue of protecting and recovering (by way of training and technology) individuals with ASD, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive conditions.
Technology plays a very important role in addressing this growing health and safety issue. However, although important, technology is only part of the solution. The real solution to this rapidly expanding issue lies in the application of a comprehensive nation wide program that includes; compatible technology and a coordinated training program for law enforcement, caregivers, and other first responders in the areas of search and rescue, search technology, and the conditions, patterns and behaviors of the populations they will be recovering. By having a national comprehensive compatible program, when families move from city to city or state to state, their equipment and the search notification/procedures will remain the same. Also, bordering cities, counties, and communities will be in a position to support each other during a search and rescue operation.
I strongly urge all to contact their congressional representatives and ask them to support “Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016” (TITLE I–MISSING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE PATIENT ALERT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION)
Gene Saunders, Founder & CEO, Project Lifesaver International