Autism advocates call for emergency alert overhaul after Calgary boy found dead

The death of 11-year-old Parker, an autistic and non-verbal boy found in a labyrinth of water pipes beneath Calgary nearly two weeks after he went missing, has sparked urgent calls for overhauling emergency alert systems across Canada.

Police found Parker's body on Wednesday afternoon, ending a massive search involving hundreds of officers and volunteers. The search effort included playing his favourite Disney songs in hopes of drawing him out — a poignant reflection of how responders scrambled to reach a child with complex needs using unconventional methods.

The National Autism Network says emergency alert systems and first-responder training need "urgent change" for vulnerable children and their families. The group released a statement Wednesday saying it will create space for autistic people, families, professionals, and communities to share stories, identify solutions, and shape real change.

"No child should be lost because the world does not yet know how to find them," the network said.

A group of mothers has also launched petitions urging officials to create alert systems similar to Amber Alerts but specifically for neurodivergent children — sometimes called an "Indigo Alert." Current Amber Alert criteria focus on abduction risk; they don't account for children who may wander or hide due to autism, sensory overload, or communication differences.

The search for Parker raised questions about how quickly public outreach reaches communities when a vulnerable child disappears. While the search was extensive, advocates argue that broader, faster emergency messaging — comparable to how Amber Alerts work — could have changed the outcome.

Parker's case has become a catalyst for a nationwide conversation about how Canada identifies and finds vulnerable children and what training first responders need to work effectively with neurodivergent youth.