A network supporting Canadians with autism wants changes in emergency alerts after a two-week search resulted in police discovering the body of Parker, an 11-year-old boy with autism, in a series of water pipes beneath the city.
Police issued an emergency alert after Parker vanished from his dayhome in Cambrian Heights on July 16, prompting hundreds of Calgarians and first responders to help in the search.
Parker was non-verbal, making the search difficult as he was unlikely to ask for help.
The Amber Alert issued by the Calgary Police Service on July 18 received criticism from some on social media, with users saying the alert should have been issued sooner for vulnerable individuals.
Canada’s National Autism Network, a federally incorporated and community-led non-profit, echoed this sentiment in a news release on Wednesday night.
“We need better emergency alert systems for missing vulnerable people,” reads the network release.
“We need first responders trained in Autistic communication, sensory distress, elopement, hiding patterns, and trauma-informed response. We need schools, childcare providers, municipalities, police services, search teams, disability organizations, Autistic people, and families working together.”
The network is creating an opportunity for the community to share stories, problem-solve, and find solutions to prevent scenarios like Parker’s disappearance from happening again, and to better prepare the public and emergency response.
“No child should be lost because the world does not yet know how to find them,” added Canada’s National Autism Network.
