


There is no alert that pertains to Mary. Or to anybody differently abled.
People with perceived cognitive disabilities, regardless of their age or their specific disability, are simply grouped into the Silver Alert System.
People with a mental illness, an intellectual disability, a severe learning disability, autism.
Young adults. Anybody in this catch-all group.
The problem with this is as obvious as the name itself. Silver Alert is for elderly dementia patients.
It does nothing to elevate the circumstances of an endangered person specific to their disability and/or age.
It would have done something. AT LEAST elevated the circumstances of Mary being endangered, had it been used. As it should have been for her.
Perhaps elevate the police response.
The problem is there needs to be an alert specific to disabled persons. Not seniors. Not people with silver hair who have dementia.
This new alert needs to be designed and crafted in such a way that it will actually do something to help.
We seek change. We want to see this done.
In Mary's voice, we will ask for it to be done.
1/4
Justice For Amber 💔
We have never heard of this law. It's named after a 17-year-old murder victim in North Carolina. We do see here, ironically and sadly, The window for funding of this program ends on Mary's birthday July the 6th 2021... What would have been her 22nd birthday. This seems to be an offer for states to participate, More than an actual law.
LINK:
https://bja.ojp.gov/program/national-ashanti-alert-network/funding
This law enables law enforcement to immediately request the location of cell phones in an emergency where a person is endangered or at risk of death. It is still making its way through government red tape. Kelsey was murdered in 2007. That's how long this takes. That in itself, needs to change!
Here's a link on the latest activity for The Kelsey Smith act:
https://oksenate.gov/press-releases/senate-approves-kelsey-smith-act-help-locate-kidnap-victims
