Working closely with children with autism in Kentucky has shown me just how vulnerable they are when they wander from safe environments. Nearly every day, we hear heartbreaking news about children going missing—especially near water, which is often deadly for kids who don’t understand depth or danger. Children with autism are naturally drawn to water. It’s shiny, calming… almost magnetic. To them, what we see as life-threatening feels safe and familiar—like a big bathtub they can step into without a second thought. But it’s not. 💔 Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children with autism who wander. 💔 They are estimated to be 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. Project Lifesaver is a life-saving program designed to prevent these tragedies. It equips individuals with autism, dementia, and Alzheimer’s with tracking devices so that if they wander, law enforcement can quickly locate and bring them back to safety. Across the United States, this program has already saved thousands of lives: ➡️ Over 4,000 individuals located ➡️ 100% success rate ➡️ Average recovery time: 30 minutes or less ➡️ Up to 95% faster than traditional search methods Yet Kentucky still lacks a statewide implementation of Project Lifesaver. And this isn’t just an issue in rural areas—even some larger cities do not offer this program. Families everywhere are left without access to a tool that could literally save a life. This program is a lifesaver—literally. We urge Kentucky state leaders to recognize the urgency of this issue and take action to make Project Lifesaver, or a similar program, available in every county. Because no parent should have to wonder if their child could have been found sooner. Because one life saved… is worth everything.