Autism Safety Measures Strengthen in Volusia County, Fla.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A potentially life-saving device that can help track children with autism and prevent them from wandering off is now in the hands of several families in Volusia County.

Thanks to a partnership with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the organization AngelSense, these families are gaining an additional layer of safety after a string of tragic incidents raised awareness of the dangers children with autism often face.

Wandering, also known as elopement, is a common concern among children with autism. Many families have faced heart-stopping moments when their child disappeared without warning.

“He’s had issues at school where he eloped, he ran away. We didn’t get very far, but we did get away,” said Leeann Krisciunas, a parent of a child with autism.

“It’s something very hard when they can’t socialize and communicate with you the way any other child can,” said Maria Ramirez, another parent of a child with autism.

The issue of wandering has sparked growing efforts to protect vulnerable children. One organization making a difference is AngelSense, which provides technology designed to track children with autism and alert caregivers when they stray into unfamiliar areas.

“We’re glad they’re here; we’re glad they’re partnering with us,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “I think it’s so important for us to protect autistic children.”

Through their collaboration, five families in Volusia County received GPS tracking devices donated by AngelSense. Each family has a child with special needs. The devices are designed to help parents monitor their child’s movements in real time, ensuring they stay safe.

“So when you wear the devices, anywhere from about four minutes, it’ll automatically create a geofence and alert as many caregivers as you want like, ‘Jennifer is in an unknown location,'” said Robert Torgusen, regional vice president of AngelSense. “It’ll send a push notification to your phone.”

The GPS trackers allow parents to follow their child’s steps and receive alerts if their child deviates from their usual routine. For example, if a child misses their bus or strays from their expected location, parents are immediately notified.

In addition to tracking, the devices include a voice feature that enables parents to communicate with their child or with anyone nearby. This feature can be crucial in situations where quick intervention is needed.

The devices can be worn in a variety of ways to suit the child’s comfort, such as on a belt, as a wristband, or clipped onto clothing.

“[My son] is quick to run; he’s quick to move,” Ramirez said. “So with the device, we are definitely looking forward to it, especially in public or in school.”

“[My son’s] teacher can be included so that she can find him just as quickly as I can find being added to the device for the notification, so I’m very thankful that if there is an issue again, we can find him quickly,” Krisciunas said.

The AngelSense partnership is one of the latest measures the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has taken to improve safety for children with autism. Tragically, two children with autism lost their lives in Volusia County last year after wandering away from their homes. In both cases, the children were later found in bodies of water—one in Ormond Beach and the other in Deltona.

These heartbreaking incidents have underscored the importance of vigilance and community involvement. Sheriff Chitwood emphasized the collective responsibility to prevent such tragedies.

“I think what you’re seeing is everybody realizes there’s an issue here, and we all need to come together to make sure just what these parents said about security,” Chitwood said.

For families navigating the challenges of autism, tools like AngelSense offer not only safety but also peace of mind. The ability to track children with autism and respond quickly in emergencies can make all the difference, helping parents feel more secure as they go about their daily lives.

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