ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are significantly more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers, according to the University of Central Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD).
Jennifer Cicia, an Autism Disorder Specialist for CARD, said that in Florida this year, there have been 95 drowning deaths, 26 of which involved children on the spectrum. This means they accounted for roughly 27% of the drownings while comprising only about 3% of the youth population.
The most recent incident in Central Florida involved a 4-year-old who wandered off while visiting a park in Ormond Beach with his father on Sunday. His body was later found in a body of water. …