COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new state bill could create immediate alerts for missing children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.

The “Joshua Alert” legislation is named after 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., a non-verbal, autistic child who went missing and died nearly a year ago.

Joshua was found after accidentally drowning in a pond near his home in a Cincinnati suburb last November.

Joshua’s parents are fighting to help other families avoid her pain. They know every second counts when a child goes missing, especially if they’re autistic.

“My newfound mission is I am going to do whatever I can to not have another family be in the same position we were in,” Jonisa Cook, Joshua’s mother, said last June.

“He was truly an angel and he’s going to continue to be eve

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