UPDATE: On January 21, 2014, the Medical Examiner informed us the the remains found along the East River in College Point Queens were of Avonte Oquendo. Avonte's death has rocked New York City and the autism community. We are in mourning and heartbroken for his family.

New York City parents, especially those on the autism spectrum, are wondering how we can keep our children safe? Last Novemeber, I was honored to stand with Senator Charles Schumer as he announced a proposal he had presented a proposal to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a federal program to fund voluntary tracking devices for children with autism and developmental disorders. We are still waiting for the DOJ to review this proposal. As we wait, we have to do something. We need something NOW. No device is perfect but something is better than nothing.

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2013- Over the last month, many parents of autistic children in NYC have been struggling to find suitable safety devices for our children. We are frantic because we all realize that Avonte Oquendo could have been our child. 14 -year old Avonte wandered off school property on October 4th and he is still missing. Avonte is on the autism spectrum and he is nonverbal.

There are so many options when it comes to safety devices but what good is a shoe tag if my child is nonverbal and can't respond when called? What good is a wristband if my child has sensory issues and won't wear it?

According to the National Autism Association, "nearly half of children with autism engage in wandering behavior." This can sometimes lead to death. We have all read the stories and seen the headlines.

So how does Project Lifesaver work? Their Web site states the following: "Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes — 95% less time than standard operations."

Please sign this petition and let us show the NYPD why we need a tracking device that services NYC, so that children like Avonte Oquendo and my son are kept safe always. (A special thanks to my fellow parent, Allegra LeGrande for contacting Project Lifesaver and informing me that the NYPD had to subscribe to bring Project Lifesaver to our city.)
Thank you.