In the aftermath of the corpse of an autistic boy found dead in a river in Lindsay, Ontario, petitions are spreading online asking the province to create a specific Amber Alert system for vulnerable children who are missing.
Suzi Guarrasi, an Ajax mother whose child is autistic and non-verbal, launched a petition on change.org on Monday calling on the Ontario government and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to review their policies and procedures. of emergency alert.
Ms Guarrasi argued that if an alert was launched immediately, there would be a better chance of finding Draven Graham alive. His petition garnered more than 3,700 signatures as of 8 am Wednesday.
The author believes that children with developmental delays who do not speak will find it difficult to seek help, which the police suggested in their sought notice.
Despite efforts – by drone, helicopter and canine squad – Draven Graham was found dead in the Scugog River on Monday afternoon. He disappeared from his home about 24 hours ago.
Ms Guarrasi and her husband drove from Ajax to Lindsay on Sunday night to help with the search.
” I know if my child goes missing, I want everything to go right away. “
I thought that poor boy needed us, and that’s why we went there and tried to find him.Ontario says the 9-year-old is also autistic and non-verbal.
One news driven alert?
Katrina Reid, a Hamilton mother whose daughter has autism, made a similar petition to change.org on Monday calling for a second Amber Alert system to be put in place when vulnerable children go missing.
He named his project Draven Alert in memory of the deceased boy.
His petition garnered more than 45,000 signatures as of 8 am Wednesday. The current Amber Alert system is only for abducted children.
I also have an autistic child. And several times he tried to run away. And it just so happened that I was lucky to be there, to watch him when it happened, and catch him before he could get away or before he got hurt.said Ms. Reid.
” I’m tired of seeing the same story on the news with different kids. This is something I believe can be avoided if we have something similar [l’Alerte Draven]. “
Crystal Hunter, a spokeswoman for Autism Ontario, said Tuesday that an Amber Alert can provide valuable information to law enforcement or community members on how to best contact a missing autistic person.
This has been a very sad day for our community, and our hearts go out to Draven’s family.added Ms. Hunter, and added that it was not just children who were at risk.
It also affects the elderly, the frail elderly. We are in favor of any action that allows us to find a solutionhe added.
With information from the CBC
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
