Mother and Grandfather Charged After 3 Young Children with Autism Were Left Home Alone

A mother and grandfather in Georgia have been charged with reckless conduct after allegedly leaving three children with autism at home unsupervised.

According to police in Albany, located about 100 miles outside of Macon, officers were called to a home at around 8 p.m. local time on April 20 after someone reported that a child was standing on the side of the road without anyone else around.

When police arrived, they found two more children inside the house, located on the town’s West Broad Avenue.

Investigators determined that the children, ages 8, 4 and 9 months, had been left home alone. Police added that the children were “autistic and non-verbal.”

While police were at the house, the children’s mother, 25-year-old Amia Elder, and grandfather, 66-year-old Kenneth Elder, arrived.

Police confirmed that none of the children were harmed. Amia and Kenneth were both charged with three counts of reckless conduct.

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According to Georgia law, misdemeanor reckless conduct carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, while a felony reckless conduct case can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

According to the Georgia-based therapy organization AIM Higher ABA, there are several steps parents of children with autism can take to make sure they are safe, including making the house secure by placing locks on doors. Parents can also teach children a few emergency preparedness skills, including how to apply a bandage, memorize important phone numbers, and use visual aids such as photos and pictures to help them better communicate.

The organization also suggests utilizing a monitoring device for these children in some situations, and points out the importance of establishing a community that can help support the kids.

“These could include neighbors, friends or family members who are familiar with your child’s needs and can respond appropriately in case of an emergency,” AIM Higher said. “Establishing open lines of communication with these individuals ensures a collaborative effort to keep your child safe and well-supported within the community.”

Albany police have asked anyone with information about this incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 229-436-TIPS, or the Criminal Investigative Bureau at 229-302-0756.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.