TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – One mother here in the Lone Star State is working on a new way to protect children with autism, after a scare of her own inspired her to make the change she wanted to see in the world.
She’s taking “The Owen Alert Act” to the state capitol.
Brina Dutton, of Austin, started The Owen Foundation to support families with loved ones on the autism spectrum – like her son, Owen, who wandered off when he was just three years old.
She says nearly half of all children on the spectrum wander off at some point; that’s more that’s four times the rate of the average neurotypical child.
Now she’s working on creating an “Owen Alert” to help families find those children. Currently, there is no dedicated emergency alert system for these high-risk situations.
The Owen Alert would establish an immediate alert system similar to the Amber Alert — although this is specifically designed for cases where children with autism go missing.
The act also includes provisions for training emergency personnel on how to interact with children with special needs and create a coordinated database.
Right now, Dutton is still collecting signatures and working with lawmakers to get The Owen Alert Act in front of the legislature – you can also lend your support by signing the petition here.