Ohio is now closer to establishing an emergency alert system for children with autism who are missing.

By a unanimous vote, lawmakers in the Ohio House advanced House Bill 359 , creating a new category of notifications: Joshua Alerts. Under HB 359, if an autistic child or a child with a similar disability goes missing, law enforcement agencies have to notify the statewide emergency system as soon as they confirm details that meet its criteria.

The activation criteria for Joshua Alerts includes confirming whether there is a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm, like if the missing child is nonverbal or limited in their communication abilities.

It is named after Joshua Al-Lateef, Jr., a 6-year-old from West Chester who fatally drowned near his home just hours after

See Full Page