Tennessee Amber Alert: Parents of autistic children, experts fear for missing Sumner teen
Wilson County’s Susann Williams has an 11-year-old son with autism who immediately recognized the diagnosis the first time she saw a picture of a Sumner County teenager who has been at the center of a statewide Amber alert for more than a week.
Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing Feb. 26 and was last seen near Stafford Court in Hendersonville wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and glasses, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said. Officials have confirmed that Sebastian has autism, something his family has in common with other many Middle Tennessee families.
About one in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I saw that boy’s picture and knew instinctively he was autistic,” Williams said. “My stomach just had all kinds of emotions wondering what those parents must be feeling, wondering if he’s afraid somewhere.”
Sebastian's disappearance has struck a nerve with many Middle Tennessee parents living with autistic children because many worry their children could end up in similar situations, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Amy Weitlauf said.
“It’s a really common fear for many of the parents I work with,” Weitlauf said of Sebastian's disappearance and the reasons that could be behind it.
Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before age 3, according to the National Autism Association. It impacts the normal development in the areas of social interaction, communication skills and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.
Wandering and autism
Nearly half of children with autism have a tendency to wander or elope from safe settings, according to the National Autism Association.
Drowning, traffic injuries, dehydration, heat stroke, hypothermia, falls and encounters with strangers are among the dangers cited as outcomes of wandering or elopement, according to a study referenced by the National Autism Association.
“It’s a very big concern for autistic individuals and their families," Weitlauf said. "We all want to keep our children safe. Teaching children with autism is a process and learning to do that well is a process."
Amy Chanin, of Hendersonville, has two autistic children, an 8-year-old who is non-verbal and has "serious elopement issues," and a 10-year-old who is not prone to wander.
Chanin is heavy on security measures like door sensors, video cameras, codes on door locks, alarms and lock reinforcements, she said. She also uses beds with extra safety features for her children and launched a Middle TN Disability Resources and Support group on Facebook that has about 2,000 members.
Williams also knows parents of children with special needs who have to set up extra safety measures, guards and alarms to protect them, especially when they're prone to wandering off, she said.
"I do a lot of trust walks and social stories with the boys," Chanin said. "YouTube has many videos and songs on levels they can understand to teach safety and not to go with strangers."
What led to Sabastian's specific disappearance is unclear. Hundreds of people from across Tennessee have joined in search efforts to locate the missing teen, but there have been no sightings or leads, officials say. There was a clear shift in the case this week in Sumner County as officials announced they would be scaling back ground searches and focusing more on the investigation into Sebastian's disappearance.
Hiding, social comfort and fears a part of autism
Like wandering and elopement, an autism diagnosis can lead to different behavioral characteristics, Weitlauf said.
Williams’ son is more prone to hide than to wander, and it usually happens when her child is overwhelmed and looking "for a safe place," she said.
Chanin's 8-year-old also likes to hide in tight, dark spaces and has an affinity for climbing, often reaching very high places, she said, noting that her child also likes water and that sometimes means three baths a day to meet sensory needs.
Some autistic kids are introverted and can be closely guarded with almost anyone but family, according to Crystal Miller, a HelpLine Advocate for AutismTN who raised two children with Asperger’s Syndrome — a form of autism. Miller was not speaking on behalf of AutismTN.
Others with autism hardly know a stranger, Miller said. She also noted that high levels of endurance and tolerance, including pain, can often be behavioral characteristics.
“From what I have seen in interviews and read in what teachers have said, this doesn’t sound like typical behavior," said Miller, whose youngest son, Chris Miller, died unexpectedly in February 2021 at age 19.
“Everything about this case is wrong. Many parents have kids on the autism spectrum, and Sebastian reminds us of our own kids. Could he have gotten on a bus or something? There are so many ideas in my head to keep me away from the worst-case scenario."
Anyone with information on Sebastian's whereabouts is encouraged to contact Sumner County Sheriff's Office Detective Carter at 615-442-1865 or bcarter@sumnersheriff.com. Tips can also be provided to Sumner County Emergency Communications at 615-451-3838 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Amber Alert: Parents of autistic kids fear for Sumner teen
