When a person with an intellectual or developmental disability goes missing, every moment matters. But in Michigan, there is currently no dedicated alert system to help locate them. Families are left to navigate a terrifying situation without the tools they need—and sometimes, without the help they deserve.

Michigan has Amber Alerts for children and Silver Alerts for seniors, but these systems often don’t apply to people with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, or other cognitive conditions. That leaves thousands of Michiganders with disabilities vulnerable when they go missing—and their families without critical public support.

Data from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research highlights that missing persons with disabilities are more than twice as likely to face harmful situations compared to their peers.

Purple Alerts are designed to fill this gap. Already adopted in five other states—including Florida, Connecticut, and Maryland—these alerts notify the public when a person with a cognitive disability goes missing. They can appear on highway signs, news broadcasts, phones, and social media—mobilizing entire communities to help find someone before it’s too late.

In October 2025, 6-year-old Aiden Ha—a nonverbal autistic child—went missing in Pennsylvania and was later found dead in a nearby river. But the tragedy also exposed a systemic failure: there was no system in place to issue a statewide alert. In response, Pennsylvania lawmakers proposed “Aiden’s Law” to create a Purple Alert system so no other family would face that nightmare alone.

Michigan families deserve the same protections.

We call on the Michigan State Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to pass legislation creating a statewide Purple Alert system. 

Let’s act before another tragedy occurs. Let’s build a system that brings our most vulnerable neighbors home safely.