MACEDONIA, Ohio — When a frantic mother called 911 to report that her 3-year-old son with autism, who is nonverbal, was missing, Macedonia dispatcher Rebecca Elias immediately began asking questions she had learned just weeks earlier during a specialized autism response training.
“Does he tend to go near things or is attracted toward certain things?” Elias asked the mother on the phone. “Are there any bodies of water near you that you’re aware of?”
The questions weren’t routine. They were part of a “Safety on the Spectrum” training hosted in May by the Autism Society of Greater Akron for police officers, dispatchers from the Macedonia and Sagamore Hills police departments.
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Only weeks after the training, Elias found herself relying on it during one of the most difficult calls of her 11-year career.
“It was very fortunate that we had the training we did and I was able to use that,” Elias said.
Within minutes, the toddler was found in a pool and resuscitated with CPR.
For autism advocates, the rescue illustrates how specialized training for dispatchers and first responders can make a life-or-death difference.
Nathan Briggs, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater Akron, said that not all incidents have a happy outcome.
“A child with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is 40 times more likely to die of accidental drowning than a neurotypical child,” Briggs said.
Because of that statistic, Kelly Clark, the organization’s community training specialist, tells every first responder the same thing.
“Always check water,” Clark said.
Elias had never handled a call about a missing child with autism before receiving the training.
Before May, she said, her knowledge came primarily from news stories and personal observations rather than formal instruction. The training taught dispatchers and officers how autism can affect a person’s communication, behavior and decision-making in emergencies. She said the program also taught her what information to gather from caregivers.
One lesson especially stood out.
Many children with autism are drawn to familiar places or objects. Some repeatedly seek out water.
Research shows people with autism can face a higher risk of early death than the general population, often tied to factors like accidents, health conditions and barriers to care — not autism itself.
She said that drownings are the number one cause of death for children with autism.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 31 children aged 8 have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Briggs said the prevalence among adults is now estimated at 1 in 45, making autism awareness increasingly important for emergency responders and the public.
That prompted Elias to ask whether the toddler had favorite locations or attractions that might help direct officers.
Clark said wandering can happen for many reasons. Some children become overwhelmed by sensory input. Others leave to reach a favorite destination or object. Every individual is different, she said, but first responders should always begin by checking nearby water.
Traffic is another major hazard, followed by wooded areas and favorite destinations, Clark said.
Clark encourages parents to call 911 immediately. She said the mother calling within minutes was “critical” for the son’s survival.
For Elias, 45, a mother and grandmother herself, she said she’ll never forget.
“It was very emotional listening back to it,” she said. “Probably the hardest call I’ve taken, but again, I’m just thankful for the outcome.”
Since launching its Safety on the Spectrum program last year, the Autism Society of Greater Akron has trained 492 first responders, educators and court personnel throughout Northeast Ohio. The nonprofit also offers training for schools, caregivers and community organizations.
So far, Clark said the training has seemed to make an impact, usually ending the event with someone saying they have a loved one with autism. Clark said one training resulted in an officer telling her that he felt more connected to her child.
“There’s always someone in the room,” Clark said.
The rescue came the same month Ohio state legislators passed the “Joshua Alert,” a statewide system designed to quickly notify the public when a child with autism goes missing. The law is named after a nonverbal, 6-year-old boy with autism, Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., who was found dead in a nearby pond after wandering from his home in 2024.
Briggs hopes the Macedonia rescue serves as a reminder that preparation — not luck — should determine the outcome when a vulnerable child disappears.
“Luck is not enough,” Briggs said. “We need more of (these) outcomes than lucky outcomes.”
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