Every year, families of children and adults with autism experience unimaginable tragedy when a loved one wanders from home and is later found in a nearby body of water. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for individuals with autism who wander.
As the father of a child with severe autism, this fear is something I live with every single day. My family has been part of Project Lifesaver for years, and I am incredibly grateful for that life-saving program. But we can—and must—do more.
St. Lucie County is surrounded by canals, ponds, lakes, rivers, and the ocean. While programs exist to help locate missing individuals, we should also invest in preventing these tragedies before they happen.
We are asking St. Lucie County to provide free swimming and water safety lessons for children and adults on the autism spectrum, with the option of one-on-one instruction for those who need individualized learning. Many autistic individuals thrive in low-stimulation, one-on-one environments where instructors can adapt lessons to their unique needs.
No family should have to choose between paying bills and giving their child access to a life-saving skill.
Swimming is not a luxury—it is a survival skill.
We respectfully ask our county leaders to make this a budget priority and work with local schools, parks, recreation departments, nonprofits, and certified swim instructors to create an accessible program for every family who needs it.
Please sign this petition and help us protect the lives of our children and adults with autism.
Together, we can prevent future tragedies and save lives.