The drowning of a 6-year-old West Chester boy has prompted state lawmakers to improve emergency alerts for missing children with autism.
The drowning of a 6-year-old West Chester boy has prompted state lawmakers to improve emergency alerts for missing children with autism.
Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., who had autism and was nonverbal, died on Nov. 21, 2024, after being missing for 28 hours. He was found in a pond at the family’s West Chester apartment complex.
On June 3, the Ohio Senate voted unanimously to create the Joshua Alert. The change would require local law enforcement to immediately notify the statewide emergency alert program when a child with autism or another developmental disability goes missing.
“This has the capacity to alert the public more quickly with the potential to truly save lives when seconds matter most,” said Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott.
Joshua’s mother, Jonisa Cook, told lawmakers that she doesn’t blame police for her son’s death. They did all they could under current law. “We don’t currently have the right tools in place to respond quickly and effectively when a child with neurodevelopmental differences goes missing,” said Cook, who attended the Senate vote.
Under current law, local law enforcement generally is not required to notify the statewide alert system during the first 24 hours of a missing-child case. The proposed change would speed up that process for these high-risk children.
Joshua’s death is not uncommon. Accidental drownings are among the leading causes of death of individuals with autism, according to the National Autism Association. One study found nearly half of children with autism tend to wander from safe settings, which can lead to injuries.
The changes included in House Bill 359, sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, and Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati, now head to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.
“While no law can undo the pain of a devastating loss, we have a responsibility to learn from these situations and to take meaningful steps to ensure they don’t happen again,” said Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson.
