Latest news with #NationalAutismAssociation
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6-year-old boy dies in apparent Michigan drowning after wandering from family reunion
A 6-year-old Michigan boy with autism drowned in a lake after wandering away from a family reunion on Saturday, July 26, at Belle Isle Park, near downtown Detroit, police say. A boy was playing in a bounce castle at the park along with several other children when he wandered off, according to the preliminary investigation by the Michigan State Police. When his family members noticed he was missing, they began searching for him and called 911 for help. A child and an adult discovered the boy in the river approximately 30 minutes after he had gone missing, based on reporting by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Emergency responders performed CPR and used an automated defibrillator in an effort to revive the child before transporting him to Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "A drowning can happen quickly and quietly and is often not how it is portrayed on TV," Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said in a written statement on Sunday, July 27. He warned that there have been multiple drownings in the state this year. "Keep a close eye on your kids and people who (can't) swim, wear life jackets when boating, and if you are a poor swimmer, and be careful with alcohol consumption." Wandering is common for children with autism Wandering is a common practice for children with autism, according to the nonprofit National Autism Association, which encourages that water be searched first when a child goes missing. Last year was the deadliest year recorded for children with autism who wandered, and nearly all in that record died from drowning, according to tracking from the association. While drowning accounted for 91% of wandering deaths, 7% involved children with autism who were struck by vehicles, and 1% who died from hypothermia, the association reported. Resources on the topic are available on the association website. The Autism Alliance of Michigan also offers a free program that connects families with resources to create safety plans. Drowning is the leading cause of death among 1-to 4-year-olds and that risk is 160 times higher for children with autism, a 2017 study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found. How to protect kids from drowning But there are ways to help keep kids safe around water and to prevent accidental drownings. "It doesn't have to be this way; it is entirely preventable," Adam Katchmarchi, CEO of the nonprofit National Drowning Prevention Alliance, previously told USA TODAY. "It's within every family's power to gain this information to keep their kids safer." The National Autism Association encourages parents to consider the following guidelines to prevent drownings. Enroll children in swimming lessons as early as possible Install protective barriers and gear, including fencing, self-latching closing gates and pool covers Require children to wear a life jacket on boats Supervise your child closely without any distractions Educate children about water safety, from safe areas to swim to avoiding riptides Contributing: Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boy dies in apparent drowning after wandering from family reunion
Black America Web
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Chrisette Michele Opens Up About Autism Diagnosis: My Life Finally Makes Sense'
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Chrisette Michele is opening up like never before. The Grammy-winning R&B vocalist, known for her soul-stirring voice and thoughtful artistry, recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with autism. In a moving social media posts, Chrisette shared, 'I just learned I'm autistic. Official diagnosis.' She added , ''They used the word 'Severely.'' The 42-year-old performer, who has been back on stage and reconnecting with audiences, explained that the diagnosis has helped her better understand how she sees and experiences the world. This is major. 'Singing… but learning to strip the mask. One show at a time (the irony). Just… coming to grips with a lot and giving myself room to take it all in,' she wrote. 'My life and its challenges finally make sense. So, so much sense.' While Chrisette has largely kept a low profile in recent years, many still remember the backlash she faced after agreeing to perform at Donald Trump's 2017 presidential inauguration. This decision sparked public criticism, reportedly led to her being dropped by her label, and caused strain. That chapter marked a turning point in her public and professional life. In sharing this diagnosis, Chrisette seems to be entering yet another turning sharing the news, Chrisette's comments sections have become a space of love, solidarity, and emotional connection. One fan reminded her, 'That don't mean nothing. We still love you—all of you—and that won't change. God can still use you and still is, to change the world. Now you just got something else to write about to help more people.' Another simply wrote, 'We love you.' Others expressed appreciation for her honesty, applauding her transparency. One supporter wrote, 'It gives people hope to see that in spite of, you can still have high quality in life; you don't have to hide behind it but you can actually live—and that's what people need to see. YOU ARE A GEM .' Some commenters also shared their own diagnoses, welcoming her into a broader neurodivergent community: 'Welcome to the severely neurodivergent club. You will find your space among us.' Source: Earl Gibson/BET / Getty Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects how people communicate, relate socially, and process the world around them. But for far too long, Black women have been left out of the broader conversation about neurodivergence. According to research from the National Autism Association and studies cited by Autism in Black, Black children are typically diagnosed with autism three years later than white children. And when it comes to Black girls and women, many are misdiagnosed or overlooked altogether due to masking – the act of suppressing natural behaviors in order to fit in socially. The 'Best of Me' singer's reflections on 'stripping the mask' speak directly to what so many Black women experience daily. Whether in the workplace, at home, or onstage, many of us are taught to shrink, adjust, and code-switch to be accepted. And this is true whether diagnosed with autism or not. Her words give voice to a truth that too often goes unspoken. Chrisette's announcement is more than a health update—it's a powerful moment of awareness and visibility. Her story reminds us that autism isn't always (or only) diagnosed in childhood. Nor does it always look like what mainstream media portrays. That's why stories like Chrisette's are so important. She ended her posts with a note of more revelations coming later. 'I'll talk more soon,' Chrisette wrote. 'Just wanted to say hi… from stage side.' SEE ALSO Chrisette Michele Opens Up About Autism Diagnosis: My Life Finally Makes Sense' was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local mother raises awareness for children with autism learning to swim
SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV) — Individuals with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than those without, according to the National Autism Association. One Savannah mom said the lack of local resources in the area makes it difficult to change that. WSAV spoke to Heather Boatright Mims, a mother of 5-year-old Matthew and is new to the autism journey. 'A lot of times parents are walking out with a piece of paper,' Mims said. 'This is your child has autism, and then you're like, 'now what?'' Matthew was diagnosed in 2024. 'My son Matthew, a lot of autistic children have hyper fixations or things that they're really drawn to,' she told WSAV. 'My son in particular has a hyper fixation with sharks. He loves everything. sharks, ocean life. So, water really is drawn to him.' That sparked her search for swim lessons. However, what she found was many dead ends. 'I was really surprised that there was no specific water safety lessons or swim lessons for autistic children,' Mims said. 'If there were many of them fell into a few categories, either they were very expensive, upwards of over $500. If you're talking about a family that's already, stretched thin.' She finally found lessons through the Jewish Educational Alliance. She is calling on to city leaders and the community to step up. 'I had to find the cognitive therapy and all of those things. Most of them are things that you have to pay out of pocket for not all the insurance are contributing to them.' She continued, 'maybe the water safety lessons should be free. Maybe we should have some type of discount or subsidy.' National Autism Acceptance month began April 1. It is a time to promote diversity equal rights and inclusion. 'Being preventative in the autism journey is very important to parents,' said 'We're always working towards, 'what does the future look like for our children.'' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Record number of kids with autism drowned in 2024. Experts don't know why
Record number of kids with autism drowned in 2024. Experts don't know why Show Caption Hide Caption Watch this mom donate safety locks for families with autistic children Sheletta Brundidge held a giveaway in Houston, Texas for families with children who have autism, donating specialized door locks to keep kids safe. First responders are being trained to search bodies of water first when an autistic child goes missing. New policies, like Kentucky's "Ian Alert" and a proposed "Joshua Alert" in Ohio, aim to improve response protocol and prevent future tragedies. WOODLAWN, Ohio ‒ Jonisa Cook gets teary-eyed talking about her son four months after his death. She still struggles to walk past kids' clothing racks in stores, or grocery aisles with his favorite foods, like Dino Nuggets and pudding cups. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., a 6-year-old diagnosed with autism, drowned in a pond at the family's apartment complex in November. "He was lovable and his smile was everything. He ran to the sound of his own beat," she told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network. "We miss him a lot. The house is definitely quieter." Joshua is one of at least 69 children with autism who drowned in 2024, almost double the typical annual average of 35 wandering-related drowning deaths, according to the National Autism Association. Word spread quickly on social media that Joshua was missing. Police, hundreds of volunteers and friends and family all searched for him, despite the snow. His body was found the day after he was reported missing. His story is similar to other kids across the country. "When you see a case like Joshua's, it really stands out just because of the community involvement, how everybody came together, how quickly they mobilized," said Lori McIlwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association. "The caring and compassion was so clearly there – you could feel it." Jonisa Cook and Joshua's two siblings moved out of their West Chester apartment after his death. The family now lives in Woodlawn, another Cincinnati suburb. Cook is trying to prevent this from happening to other families. She's serving on an Ohio missing persons group to change the way state and local agencies respond to cases like Joshua's, and she started a petition to implement a new "Joshua Alert" for missing children with spectrum disorders. "Since Joshua (died), his dad sent me, within like a week or two after that, stories of three or four other kiddos (who drowned)," she said. "This is a big issue." Experts unsure how to explain jump in autistic children's deaths The National Autism Association, a nonprofit that provides education, tools and research for the autism community, has tracked deaths of children and adults with autism for decades. McIlwain said drowning deaths among autistic children had not been trending up before 2024. There was a record low number of these types of deaths in 2020. "Last year was an outlier," she said. "There's no real indication as to why." Other factors – like the average age of children who drowned, which was 6 – were similar to past years. The risk of drowning went up if the child was under 14 and nonspeaking. "If they wander away, drowning is pretty imminent, meaning more times than not they are going to drown," McIlwain said. Children with autism sometimes wander away, or elope, from parents or caregivers. Many autistic kids are also drawn to water, regardless of its temperature, because it offers a calming sensory effect. 'So easy to happen so quickly': Her boy wandered from home and died. This mom wants you to know the perils of 'elopement.' The risk of drowning for autistic children is more than 160 times greater than the general child population, according to a 2017 study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Drowning deaths are more common during warmer months, but can still happen in winter. A 6-year-old girl with autism drowned in an icy pond in Massachusetts this January. Families all over are affected: 26 states had one or more wandering-related drowning deaths last year, according to the National Autism Association. A 2013-2022 study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 83% of all accidental deaths of missing autistic children were due to drowning. The study also found drownings were most common among boys between 3 and 8 years old. Education, police training could lead to more rescues Training first responders and parents to check nearby ponds, pools or creeks when a child with autism goes missing is critical, McIlwain said, and there's evidence that message is becoming more widespread. Though there was a record high number of autistic child drownings last year, there was also a record number of rescues. "Even though it was such a tragic year, there's more awareness than we've ever seen," McIlwain said. "First responders knowing where to search, knowing the water piece. So, that's all very encouraging. It's bittersweet." The National Autism Association launched its #SearchWaterFirst campaign in 2013 to spread awareness. Groups like Autism Connections train first responders to check bodies of water first when an autistic child is reported missing. Large police agencies typically offer this kind of training, but smaller jurisdictions may not have the resources to provide it, McIlwain said. To fix that, McIlwain would like to see autism-specific training taught at police academies and in criminal justice programs. Cook is working to start a foundation in Joshua's name that could help parents get access to appropriate child care, affordable tracking devices and other support. Cook smiled as she remembered Joshua's early grasp of letters, colors and shapes. He was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. "It was hard. Especially when he would cry and you knew something was hurting him, but he couldn't tell you what was going on," she said. "That was one of the hardest things as a parent." Cook took classes for parents with autistic children at Cincinnati Children's and enrolled Joshua in specialized therapies and schools. It was both challenging and rewarding, she said, as they celebrated all of Joshua's milestones. But child care for autistic kids can be hard to navigate and demand can outpace availability. Cook lost some of her support system when her parents died in 2020. She wants other parents of autistic children to know they're not alone. "A lot of families don't have help. A lot of people don't want to deal with it. They think the kid is too hyper, or they don't understand (them)," she said. "A lot of families don't understand the day-to-day. It's going to appointments, therapy, speech (class), school meetings. It's different. "There's definitely a need for more child care opportunities for kiddos with autism. There's definitely more education that needs to be out there for families with autism," she said. What does 2024 jump in deaths mean for 2025? Five kids with autism have drowned so far this year, according to the National Autism Association. "We had a couple of deaths so far in January. Last year we didn't have any January deaths," McIlwain said. "I don't know if it's going to continue trending up, but this is definitely different from previous years." At the same time, new policies are going into effect. Last summer, Kentucky created the "Ian Alert," which works like an Amber Alert for children with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, who go missing. It's named for 9-year-old Ian Sousis, who drowned in the Ohio River in 2022. The alert hasn't been used yet in the state, according to Kentucky State Police. "The alert system is one piece, but it's a critical piece," McIlwain said. "Just like the tracking devices and home security, supervision, all of these are critical pieces. Combining these pieces is going to be what keeps our kids safe." Cook's petition to implement a similar "Joshua Alert" in Ohio has more than 15,000 signatures. Through her foundation, Cook hopes to make tracking devices better and more affordable, and help parents navigate child care. "One of the things that I feel is helping me cope with Joshua's death is I am on this mission to help other families, so they won't have to experience it," Cook said. "I still have my moments. When I start to think about him more, (I tell myself,) 'I'm doing work. I'm trying to prevent this from happening to someone else.'"
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Record number of kids with autism drowned in 2024. Experts don't know why
WOODLAWN, Ohio ‒ Jonisa Cook gets teary-eyed talking about her son four months after his death. She still struggles to walk past kids' clothing racks in stores, or grocery aisles with his favorite foods, like Dino Nuggets and pudding cups. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., a 6-year-old diagnosed with autism, drowned in a pond at the family's apartment complex in November. "He was lovable and his smile was everything. He ran to the sound of his own beat," she told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network. "We miss him a lot. The house is definitely quieter." Joshua is one of at least 69 children with autism who drowned in 2024, almost double the typical annual average of 35 wandering-related drowning deaths, according to the National Autism Association. Word spread quickly on social media that Joshua was missing. Police, hundreds of volunteers and friends and family all searched for him, despite the snow. His body was found the day after he was reported missing. His story is similar to other kids across the country. "When you see a case like Joshua's, it really stands out just because of the community involvement, how everybody came together, how quickly they mobilized," said Lori McIlwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association. "The caring and compassion was so clearly there – you could feel it." Jonisa Cook and Joshua's two siblings moved out of their West Chester apartment after his death. The family now lives in Woodlawn, another Cincinnati suburb. Cook is trying to prevent this from happening to other families. She's serving on an Ohio missing persons group to change the way state and local agencies respond to cases like Joshua's, and she started a petition to implement a new "Joshua Alert" for missing children with spectrum disorders. "Since Joshua (died), his dad sent me, within like a week or two after that, stories of three or four other kiddos (who drowned)," she said. "This is a big issue." The National Autism Association, a nonprofit that provides education, tools and research for the autism community, has tracked deaths of children and adults with autism for decades. McIlwain said drowning deaths among autistic children had not been trending up before 2024. There was a record low number of these types of deaths in 2020. "Last year was an outlier," she said. "There's no real indication as to why." Other factors – like the average age of children who drowned, which was 6 – were similar to past years. The risk of drowning went up if the child was under 14 and nonspeaking. "If they wander away, drowning is pretty imminent, meaning more times than not they are going to drown," McIlwain said. Children with autism sometimes wander away, or elope, from parents or caregivers. Many autistic kids are also drawn to water, regardless of its temperature, because it offers a calming sensory effect. 'So easy to happen so quickly': Her boy wandered from home and died. This mom wants you to know the perils of 'elopement.' The risk of drowning for autistic children is more than 160 times greater than the general child population, according to a 2017 study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Drowning deaths are more common during warmer months, but can still happen in winter. A 6-year-old girl with autism drowned in an icy pond in Massachusetts this January. Families all over are affected: 26 states had one or more wandering-related drowning deaths last year, according to the National Autism Association. A 2013-2022 study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 83% of all accidental deaths of missing autistic children were due to drowning. The study also found drownings were most common among boys between 3 and 8 years old. Training first responders and parents to check nearby ponds, pools or creeks when a child with autism goes missing is critical, McIlwain said, and there's evidence that message is becoming more widespread. Though there was a record high number of autistic child drownings last year, there was also a record number of rescues. "Even though it was such a tragic year, there's more awareness than we've ever seen," McIlwain said. "First responders knowing where to search, knowing the water piece. So, that's all very encouraging. It's bittersweet." The National Autism Association launched its #SearchWaterFirst campaign in 2013 to spread awareness. Groups like Autism Connections train first responders to check bodies of water first when an autistic child is reported missing. Large police agencies typically offer this kind of training, but smaller jurisdictions may not have the resources to provide it, McIlwain said. To fix that, McIlwain would like to see autism-specific training taught at police academies and in criminal justice programs. Cook is working to start a foundation in Joshua's name that could help parents get access to appropriate child care, affordable tracking devices and other support. Cook smiled as she remembered Joshua's early grasp of letters, colors and shapes. He was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. "It was hard. Especially when he would cry and you knew something was hurting him, but he couldn't tell you what was going on," she said. "That was one of the hardest things as a parent." Cook took classes for parents with autistic children at Cincinnati Children's and enrolled Joshua in specialized therapies and schools. It was both challenging and rewarding, she said, as they celebrated all of Joshua's milestones. But child care for autistic kids can be hard to navigate and demand can outpace availability. Cook lost some of her support system when her parents died in 2020. She wants other parents of autistic children to know they're not alone. "A lot of families don't have help. A lot of people don't want to deal with it. They think the kid is too hyper, or they don't understand (them)," she said. "A lot of families don't understand the day-to-day. It's going to appointments, therapy, speech (class), school meetings. It's different. "There's definitely a need for more child care opportunities for kiddos with autism. There's definitely more education that needs to be out there for families with autism," she said. Five kids with autism have drowned so far this year, according to the National Autism Association. "We had a couple of deaths so far in January. Last year we didn't have any January deaths," McIlwain said. "I don't know if it's going to continue trending up, but this is definitely different from previous years." At the same time, new policies are going into effect. Last summer, Kentucky created the "Ian Alert," which works like an Amber Alert for children with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, who go missing. It's named for 9-year-old Ian Sousis, who drowned in the Ohio River in 2022. The alert hasn't been used yet in the state, according to Kentucky State Police. "The alert system is one piece, but it's a critical piece," McIlwain said. "Just like the tracking devices and home security, supervision, all of these are critical pieces. Combining these pieces is going to be what keeps our kids safe." Cook's petition to implement a similar "Joshua Alert" in Ohio has more than 15,000 signatures. Through her foundation, Cook hopes to make tracking devices better and more affordable, and help parents navigate child care. "One of the things that I feel is helping me cope with Joshua's death is I am on this mission to help other families, so they won't have to experience it," Cook said. "I still have my moments. When I start to think about him more, (I tell myself,) 'I'm doing work. I'm trying to prevent this from happening to someone else.'" This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Drowning deaths for kids with autism almost doubled last year
