Collier County Public Schools and NCH Safe and Healthy Children’s Coalition held a press conference on Aug. 6 to increase awareness and prevent drowning deaths among children with autism.

The coalition’s community partners who attended the event unveiled a Family Safety Package and provided tips to help spread the word about the need to decrease the number of child drownings.

The meeting was scheduled a little more than a week after the death of 5-year-old Jaylen Saintelien. The non-verbal, autistic boy vanished in the afternoon on Saturday, July 17, after wandering away from his home in Golden Gate. The following morning, he was found by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in a nearby pond.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Leslie Ricciardelli, superintendent of Collier County Public Schools, said.

Drowning is the no. 1 cause of accidental death for children with autism.

The statistics

• Children on the autism spectrum are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers.

• Florida leads the nation in child drowning deaths. According to the Florida Department of Children and Families:

• 105 child drowning deaths occurred in 2024.

• As of mid-2025, 18 of the 79 children who have drowned had autism.

• Since 2021, 155 children with autism have drowned in Florida.

• Among children aged 5 or older, 58% of drownings involve a child with autism.

• Florida has 1.6 million residential pools, increasing the risk for wandering children.

Learning to swim

“Our community is aware that this is an issue,” Ricciardelli said. “So, all of us are here today to support parents in order for them to be prepared and to have a plan of action.”

The Florida Department of Health is offering a Swim Lesson Voucher Program, providing free swim lessons to qualifying children under the age of 4.

Kimberly Cluster, Florida Department of Health administrating health officer, feels that water safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“Drowning is 100% avoidable through education, supervision and access to swim instructions,” she said. “We can save lives. Let’s work together to make Collier County a model of water safety and drowning prevention.”

Autism Collier Charter School’s mission is to ensure a brighter future for children with autism. Throughout the summer, founding Principal Emily Kafle met with each of the families enrolling in the school. One question she asked each family turned into concern, then a plan to take action.

“I asked each family a question: ‘Can your child swim?’ Eighty percent of them said no,” Kafle said. “One hundred percent of them said, ‘My child loves the water.’” Because of this, all 80 students enrolled at ACCS will learn how to swim as part of their everyday curriculum.

The Spectrum Alert law

Stephanie Nordin, a parent of two children with autism, emphasized the importance of the Spectrum Alert law meant to establish a missing persons alert system for children with autism.

“It’s similar to the Amber Alert, but it has a built-in understanding that people with autism may not respond to their name when being called, may not understand lights [or] sounds and might be drawn to water,” Nordin said.

The bill passed the Florida Legislature in June and was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 1.

“I believe that Collier County can and should be the leaders in this effort,” Nordin said. “Let’s let Jaylen’s memory move us to action. Let this be a moment [through which] we commit to doing everything that we can to keep every child safe.”

Other tips

• Install door and window alarms in your home. Parents will receive an immediate alert if your child attempts to leave.

• Make an emergency plan, including a recent photo of your child, a physical description, emergency contacts and a list of nearby water sources or other hazards.

• Using GPS tracking devices such as Project Lifesaver could help you find your child fast.

• Research local resources, including the Autism Collier Resource Center’s parent groups, parent support hotline and monthly family socials, as well as the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Support Project’s resources, which include a home safety evaluation.

Family Safety Package

Families served by Collier County Public Schools, AACS, Able Academy, STARability Foundation and Autism Collier Resource Center will all receive a Family Safety Package.

The package includes:

• A list of lifesaving tips

• Door alarms donated by the Naples Student Education Foundation and Florida Prevention Foundation

• Information about the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Autism Support Project “Please remember that drowning doesn’t discriminate,” NCH Senior Director Paula DiGrigoli said. “It affects even the most loving families and the most attentive parents. But with the right education and community support, we can prevent it.”