Petition calls for 'Purple Alert' designation in Pennsylvania after 17-year-old with Down syndrome safely found in Downtown Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Hundreds of people in the community say they want to see change after a frantic search for a local teen with down syndrome.
Specifically, they want an alert, like an Amber Alert, to help find missing children who have cognitive disabilities. It's called a purple alert.
So far, the petition for a purple alert system in Pennsylvania has more than 1,400 signatures and the petition creator said it's gaining even more traction every day.
Over the weekend Kayla Durler went missing for more than 24 hours. People with caring hearts, like Rachel Romano, hit the ground searching for the teen with down syndrome.
"I was really concerned as a special education teacher and as just a member of the public, that this information wasn't being disseminated quickly enough," said Romano.
"They might be afraid of a situation. They might have anxiety; they might be fearful. It might be too overstimulating."
Durler was found safe and now her story's inspiring demand, for a purple alert system. It's like an amber or a silver alert, but it's just for finding missing people who have disabilities. Romano started a petition to get the alert in our state.
Romano said, "If we had a Purple Alert system that would've gone out to the public. Everyone would've gotten it. And instead of her wondering around downtown many people who passed her could've identified her. And got her help a lot sooner," Romano continued.
Jamie Ward, the founder of Jamie's Dream Team, said she backs this petition.
"We don't want this ever to happen again. So, we're calling all state representatives to back us on this," said Ward. Jamie's Dream Team volunteers were the ones who found Durler.
Ward said she also passed out hundreds of flyers to help find Durler.
"But, if there was this alert their phones could've been pinged immediately. With the picture of Kayla and somebody could've easily say 'Hey look, I have seen her,'" said Ward.
Similar purple alert systems have been implemented in states like Texas and Florida.
"Of course this is just a petition. But those real decisions come down to our law makers and policy makers and I hope that that they're listening and take that into account," said Romano.
The goal now is 1,500 signatures on this petition, but the next step is for state law makers to create and pass a bill for the governor to approve. Romano said she initially made this petition for an alert for just children with disabilities, but there are adults who have a lower cognitive functioning ability. So, she would like to see an alert for those with disabilities of all ages.
