Hassan recounted discovering the boy’s mother near the front pond, where Mohamed often ran. “She kept insisting her son was in the pond, and I tried to comfort her by saying, ‘Let’s stay hopeful; maybe he just wandered off, and someone will spot him,'” Hassan remembered vividly. By half-past nine in the evening, authorities notified the family they had found something in the water. Confirmation of Mohamed’s recovery came at around 10 p.m.
This heartbreaking event echoes another sorrowful incident from June, when 4-year-old Waeys Ali Mohamed, also a Somali child with autism, sadly met the same fate in Minnehaha Creek after straying from his family in Hopkins. Such cases spotlight the exposure and risks faced by children with autism, underlining the necessity for safety precautions near water.
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A GoFundMe initiative, crafted by Mohamed’s aunt, voiced the family’s sorrow: “We are deeply saddened to report the loss of my nephew in a tragic accident. Diagnosed with autism, he wandered into a nearby lake and drowned. Our family is shattered, and we cherish your thoughts and prayers during this time of grief.”
As of Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe effort had gathered over $17,000 towards a $35,000 target, aimed at covering funeral costs and supporting the grieving family. Mohamed’s funeral happened last week.
Joyce Lorenz, a city representative, acknowledged their proactive stance on safety issues for families with children on the autism spectrum. She mentioned the city’s partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota and the Somali Parents Autism Network (SPAN) to offer resources and family-oriented education.
“Our safety and recreation officials are collaborating with the Somali community to explore better support systems and provide details about inclusive swim programs at the Community Center,” Lorenz declared on Friday, adding that the incident report is pending.
Mahdi Warsama, heading the Minneapolis-based SPAN, stressed the imperative for heightened understanding and preventive strategies regarding autism within the community.
Founded to support Somali parents of children with autism, SPAN advocates for awareness and provides valuable resources. “In just three months, two Somali community children have drowned. Both were nonverbal and on the autism spectrum,” Warsama explained, noting that many children with autism are attracted to water due to its sensory appeal but often don’t recognize peril.
“Water offers significant sensory allure for children with autism,” Warsama noted. He underscored the importance of safety procedures, such as barriers and protection gears in regions frequented by autistic children. “They often lack danger perception. Simple measures—like locks, alarms, and water barriers—can be life-saving.”
SPAN is actively championing autism-specific instruction for first responders and legislative backing for preventive strategies, including alarms, GPS tools, and affordable home changes. “Training police in autism is crucial since not all officers have such understanding,” Warsama emphasized. “Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training exists for mental health crises, but nothing equivalent for autism. We need mandated training for police to handle such cases more adeptly.”
Warsama further stated that SPAN is in dialogue with government officials and city leaders about implementing safety measures like barriers around retention ponds and signs warning the neighborhood of nearby autistic children.
Hassan, who founded the nonprofit Twin Cities Parent Connection, pressed for a focused push on advocating for children with autism’s safety within the community.
“This isn’t something a single person can tackle, hence the need for city and police involvement particularly in this locale,” she asserted.
Recounting previous near-misses, she observed, “This recent tragedy isn’t isolated; similar incidents saw neighbors stepping in. However, families often hesitate to report due to fear of consequences. They’re striving to care for their children and ensure safe environments.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
