A Depraved System, A Drowned Boy, and the Hero Cops of Volusia County

Another Day, Another Avoidable Tragedy

Last Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., a 5-year-old autistic boy went wandering. This is a common and well-known behavior for autistic children, yet we as a society do nothing to protect them. The boy's family, aware of the dangers, had taken steps to secure their home, including installing a door alarm. Yet, this was not enough.

The boy was "attracted to water," and his family, in a desperate attempt to keep him safe, called 911. Enter the heroes of our story.

Enter the Heroes: Deputies to the Rescue

Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived and began a search of the area, aware of the urgency due to the child's attraction to water. Within minutes, Deputy Wes Brough spotted the child in a pond, holding onto a log. Body camera footage shows the brave deputy jumping into the water and carrying the boy to safety.

The child is lucky to be alive, and we must ask ourselves: Why should luck play a factor in the survival of our vulnerable citizens?

A Lucky Escape, But For How Long?

"I thanked God for putting me in that position," said Deputy Brough. We should be thankful, but also angry. Angry that this could have so easily ended in tragedy. Angry that autistic individuals are not given the support they need to prevent these situations. Angry that it takes a heroic deputy to paper over the cracks in our broken system.

Thankfully, Deputy Brough and his colleagues have received Autism Awareness Training, preparing them for such incidents. But this shouldn't be an exception, it should be the norm.

Elopement: A Symptom of a Broken System

"Elopement," as it's known, affects almost half of those with autism spectrum disorder. A shocking statistic that should shame us all. A 2016 study National Autism Association review found that nearly a third of elopement cases resulted in death or required medical attention. Yet, we continue to fail these individuals and their families.

When will we wake up and provide the support and resources needed to prevent these dangerous situations?

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Original story contributed by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, with minor edits and a complete moral re-evaluation by Ahjané Forbes, a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Follow her on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.