Autism registry to help police track down missing people

A registry for children with autism will be launched Monday in Sudbury.

Sudbury police will now collect information to help them find people with the condition who go missing.

This is welcome news for Trish Kitching, who recalled when her autistic son Morgan went missing at four years of age.

"He had gotten over the fence ... through the neighbor's yard," Kitching said. "[He] pulled up a chain link fence ... got into the mountain area and was found a couple streets over in the backyard. It was quite frightening for us."

Kitching has another son with autism and will be submitting both their names to a new registry.

Families who are interested can contact police and have information about their loved ones entered in a database.

Photos can beincluded, along with details about places they like to hide. The description can also include a warning to police if the autistic individuals can be violent.

Kitching said she first heard about the idea when a child with autism went missing and died in New Brunswick, so she approached police about having a registry set up in Sudbury.

"Its not going to guarantee a find of course," Kitching said. "But its going to save time. Its just a fabulous way to have data on file."

Similar registries are available in a handful of other Canadian cities, including North Bay. Kitching is working to set up another registry in Espanola.