Tens of thousands have signed a petition calling for a change in the Amber Alert system in Ontario after an 11-year-old Ontario boy was found dead in a river on Monday.
The body of the young boy was found in the Skugog River, near Lindsay, Ont., After leaving home about 24 hours earlier. Draven Graham, who lived with autism, slipped out of the house while his father shaved on Sunday morning. That was the last time he was seen.
Following a devastating series of events, Kat Reed of Hamilton, Ontario, created a petition to create a “Draven Warning” for “missing children with autism and vulnerable / special needs.”
Amber Alert is currently an emergency show specifically dedicated to seeking public help when a child is abducted.
“The release of Amber Alert is not taken lightly. “Specific guidelines must be followed to spread the amber signal,” the Ontario police website said.
These guidelines include law enforcement agencies that believe that a child under the age of 18 has been abducted, is in danger, descriptive information is available, and then a brief signal is given to help locate the child.
But when Graham disappeared, there was no Amber Alert because he was not kidnapped.
However, more than 30,000 people want to change this for future cases like this.
“The more awareness and attention we can draw to this while it’s still fresh in everyone’s minds, the better. “Unfortunately, all the noise subsides VERY quickly in these situations, nothing changes and then the list of tragic endings continues to grow,” Reed wrote in the petition.
“This must happen,” wrote Ryan Rubenstein of Milton. “If even one life is saved as a result, it’s worth it. Be strong..be angry..it’s a tragedy, but also HEAR. The more they sign, the louder our voice becomes. Thanks to everyone who signed up or shared. “
Police say on their website that if Amber Alerts is used excessively, it could “reduce public response when really needed.”
Amber signal is activated in this undated image of the file.
Others, meanwhile, are urging the petition to go a step further to include people over the age of 18. Racehl Laroque of Woodbridge, Ont., Writes: “Please remember that autism does not end at 18, and let’s make sure that autistic / vulnerable adults and adults are also involved in this signal.”
The petition is working to reach 35,000 signatures.
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