Maryland bill aims to protect people with dementia, autism who wander off

A lost child can lead to panic for parents.

That unfortunate thought morphed into reality for Shari Bailey and her family five years ago.

“It still gets me tense just thinking about it,” she said.

It was that day the Bailey family discovered what autism and dementia elopement is. Elopement occurs when a child with autism or an individual with dementia wanders away from a place, activity or person.

Bailey’s daughter, Laila, lives with a rare syndrome and nonverbal autism.

“The door was open, and apparently Laila had opened the front door and wanted to explore the world on her own,” Bailey said. “Luckily, my husband was not far and he found her in the neighborhood.”
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Children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than children without, according to the National Autism Association.

Laila’s story — along with the unfortunate passing of two Maryland children with autism whose bodies were found near bodies of water — inspired the Laila Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act, or LEAD: Five Maryland bills with a mission to provide caregiver resources, access to resources, providing mandatory water mapping, voluntary locating devices and first responder training.

“That’s why I wanted to do this piece of legislation because I have cerebral palsy and so I care very deeply about the disability community,” said Del. Aaron Kaufman of District 18, who is sponsoring one of the bills.

He says he wants to ensure no parent or family member experiences a preventable loss.

“What this bill is is real tragedy prevention legislation so that we have more happy situations where individuals that are disabled or have dementia come back safely,” he said.

Kaufman’s bill aims to provide police training for officers on how to respond to individuals with dementia or autism. to learn how to search near bodies of water, sensory aware approach and reunification with families.

These are important factors, according to New Carrollton police Chief Linwood Alston, whose mother lives with dementia.

“If she were to ever wander, I would want the responding officers to understand that she’s not resisting, she’s not defying — she’s afraid and confused,” he said. “Training transforms reaction into compassion.”

Kaufman says the house legislation and similar senate bill have passed both chambers and is expected to be signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

For the Bailey family, they hope this legislation also lets families know that they are not alone.

“All of us have a commonality,” Bailey said. “And that is we have the best interest of the one we are caring for at heart.”