Support Waylon's Safe Steps Act: Protect TN Children with Disabilities from Elopement
The Issue
To: Members of the Tennessee General Assembly
On October 20, 2026, my 7-year-old grandson, Waylon, tragically lost his life after wandering away from home and drowning in a neighbor's swimming pool.
Waylon was a loving, energetic little boy with autism who loved to run, play, and explore. Like many children with disabilities, he was at risk of elopement- leaving a safe or supervised environment without understanding the dangers around him.
His family worked tirelessly to protect him. Yet, despite their efforts, tragedy struck.
Across Tennessee, families of children with disabilities face similar challenges every day. Many parents and caregivers live with the constant fear that their child could wander away and encounter traffic, water, dangerous terrain, abduction, or other life-threatening situations.
Preventive safety measures can help reduce these risks, but the cost of secure fencing, door and window alarms, specialized locks, GPS tracking devices, and other protective equipment can place them out of reach for families.
We are asking Tennessee lawmakers to introduce and pass Waylon's Safe Steps Act.
This proposed legislation would establish a statewide financial assistance program that:
- Provides funding for preventive safety measures for children with diagnosed disabilities who have documented risk of elopement.
- Helps cover secure yard fencing, self-closing gates, door and window alarms, appropriate safety locks, waterproof GPS tracking devices only a caregiver can remove. and other approved protective equipment.
- Makes assistance available regardless of household income, with higher-income families contributing a portion of the cost through a sliding-scale system.
- Allows families to obtain preventive assistance before a child experiences a serious injury or life-threatening elopement incident.
- Helps protect children from drowning, traffic accidents, exposure, and other dangers associated with elopement.
A child's safety should not depend solely on what their family can afford.
I cannot change what happened to my grandson. But I can work to prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.
By signing this petition, you are asking Tennessee lawmakers to recognize the dangers of elopement and establish meaningful financial assistance for families working to keep their children safe.
I can ask "What if" all day long, and it won't change the outcome for my daughter's child. But WHAT IF it changed the outcome for yours?
Please sign and share this petition in support of Waylon's Safe Steps Act.
279
The Issue
To: Members of the Tennessee General Assembly
On October 20, 2026, my 7-year-old grandson, Waylon, tragically lost his life after wandering away from home and drowning in a neighbor's swimming pool.
Waylon was a loving, energetic little boy with autism who loved to run, play, and explore. Like many children with disabilities, he was at risk of elopement- leaving a safe or supervised environment without understanding the dangers around him.
His family worked tirelessly to protect him. Yet, despite their efforts, tragedy struck.
Across Tennessee, families of children with disabilities face similar challenges every day. Many parents and caregivers live with the constant fear that their child could wander away and encounter traffic, water, dangerous terrain, abduction, or other life-threatening situations.
Preventive safety measures can help reduce these risks, but the cost of secure fencing, door and window alarms, specialized locks, GPS tracking devices, and other protective equipment can place them out of reach for families.
We are asking Tennessee lawmakers to introduce and pass Waylon's Safe Steps Act.
This proposed legislation would establish a statewide financial assistance program that:
- Provides funding for preventive safety measures for children with diagnosed disabilities who have documented risk of elopement.
- Helps cover secure yard fencing, self-closing gates, door and window alarms, appropriate safety locks, waterproof GPS tracking devices only a caregiver can remove. and other approved protective equipment.
- Makes assistance available regardless of household income, with higher-income families contributing a portion of the cost through a sliding-scale system.
- Allows families to obtain preventive assistance before a child experiences a serious injury or life-threatening elopement incident.
- Helps protect children from drowning, traffic accidents, exposure, and other dangers associated with elopement.
A child's safety should not depend solely on what their family can afford.
I cannot change what happened to my grandson. But I can work to prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.
By signing this petition, you are asking Tennessee lawmakers to recognize the dangers of elopement and establish meaningful financial assistance for families working to keep their children safe.
I can ask "What if" all day long, and it won't change the outcome for my daughter's child. But WHAT IF it changed the outcome for yours?
Please sign and share this petition in support of Waylon's Safe Steps Act.
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Petition created on October 27, 2026