Ohio recently enacted a new alert system they hope to never need. Similar to an Amber Alert, this new alert is meant for missing children with autism or another developmental disability. The alert was named after a 6-year-old boy, Joshua Al-Lateef, Jr. from West Chester, Ohio, who tragically lost his life in 2024. From this tragedy, Ohio Representatives Jennifer Gross and Cecil Thomas jointly sponsored House Bill 359 to establish the Joshua Alert.
Gross expressed that “when a child with autism or a developmental disability goes missing, every second counts. By mobilizing law enforcement, first responders, and our communities faster, we can save lives and spare other families the heartbreak Joshua’s family endured.”
A Joshua Alert can be activated after a law enforcement officer verifies that a child with autism or another developmental disability is missing.
Visit the Ohio Attorney General’s website to learn more or sign up for alerts. The Joshua Alert took effect in Sept. 2026.
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