A Small Miracle, Inc. is very excited about a relatively new partnership we have undertaken with the North Carolina Project Lifesaver Task Force. Losing track of a child, for even a few minutes, is one of the most terrifying things a parent can ever experience. For the parents of a child with special needs, this experience can happen long after a neurotypical child learns not to wander off. Many of the people we serve can’t communicate well if they get lost and many are cognitively impaired and are in grave danger if they wander. Ann Newsome, ASM Vice President, researched Project Lifesaver, made the necessary connections, and then has advocated to help families learn about, and obtain this program for their loved ones.

Project Lifesaver is a super program that is very simple and cost effective. Appropriate for all ages, it consists of a Care Trak Wrist Transmitter that is waterproof, almost impossible for the wearer to remove, and looks like a wristwatch that is affixed to the wanderer’s wrist or ankle. If the individual goes missing, 911 is contacted and told that a “Project Lifesaver” participant has disappeared. The first responders immediately take the Tracking Receiver to the individual’s last known location, turn the unit on, and start tracking the missing person. The wrist transmitter the individual wears is approximately $270 with an additional $15 per month for new wristbands and batteries. The EPSDT program should cover the cost of the transmitter and monthly supplies for children under the age of 21 who have Medicaid and there may also be grant money available for those who don’t meet the EPSDT requirement.

Several North Carolina counties already have Project Lifesaver in place and ASM believes every county should, as there probably isn’t a county without someone with autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other similar condition. A Small Miracle, Inc. was excited to donate the first unit to Wayne County (see photo) and we hope to donate units to other counties in the future.

For more information, go to www.ncpltaskforce.org or contact Ann Newsome at our Goldsboro Office at 919-751-9089. In addition, the National Autism Association recommends Project Lifesaver and offers assistance with fundraising for those who need it. Visit www.nationalautismassociation.org and look at the FOUND Program.