GPS Tracking for Autistic Kids: Kevin and Avonte’s Law Passes

28 Mar 2018

Fourteen-year-old Trevyan Rowe’s bus driver dropped him off in front of the school just like every other morning. Sadly, Rowe suffers from autism, and this day was not like every other. His normal routine, which is very important to maintain for those high on the autism scale, was disrupted when he misplaced his phone. In confusion, Rowe simply walked away from his school building. Sadly, Rowe is not the first autistic child to simply wander off from safety and become lost.

This terrifying situation is a legitimate fear for millions of Americans whose loved ones are suffering from Alzheimer’s, autism, dementia or other mental conditions. The Journal of Pediatrics published one important study that revealed around one in three children with autism will wander off and become temporarily lost.

On November 2, 2017, the U.S. Senate passed Kevin and Avonte’s Law. This law was dedicated to two young autistic children who lost their lives when they wandered away from their caregivers. The law seeks to publicize and promote various initiatives that could reduce the risk of injury for wandering children. In addition, the law reauthorized the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program.

Kevin and Avonte’s Law will provide grants towards creating locating technology programs for the various individuals who wander away from caregivers. Innovative companies have already been working towards creating devices that would allow GPS tracking for autistic children. These GPS devices be worn or attached on a child’s clothing. Parents can monitor their children’s wear-a-bouts through a mobile app in real time.

Additionally, they can designate specific boundaries. If the child wanders outside of the boundary area, then an alert will immediately be sent to the phone’s app. When a child has wandered off, parents can activate “runner mode”. This mode will update the GPS device location every ten seconds to keep parents informed. Parents can determine whether the child is walking or traveling in a vehicle, and they can activate a special mode that allows them to listen in on their child’s situation. These devices can also be used on older individuals who suffer from conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Kevin and Avonte’s Law now goes to U.S. House of Representatives, where it will be considered.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.