It's a parent's worst nightmare, their child wanders off, disappears and is no where to be found.
Sadly, this happens too often in families with autistic children.
"You never think it's going to happen to you," said Michael Sprague grandfather of a child with autism.
Isaac Sprague his grandson, was having fun practicing archery with his grandfather in Hilmar. In an instant, the 7-year old autistic boy disappeared.
"You can't comprehend the feeling when one minute somebody's there and you come back and a few minutes later they're gone and no matter what you do you can't find them," said Sprague.
After eight hours of searching for the boy, the Merced County dive team found Isaac crying in the freezing Merced River.
This time, it turned out good, but many times, it doesn't.
Like when 14-year old Avonte Oquendo wondered away from school. He was found three months later in a river dead.
And little 9-year-old Mikaela Lynch vanished from her backyard. A dive team found her body in a muddy creek.
About half of autistic children are prone to wandering. Add that to the common fascination that many autistic children have with water, and the result is tragic.
"I was terrified. I don't think I've been more scared in my whole life," Jenni Solla mother.
Jenni Solla is mother to 9-year-old Andrew. She vividly remembers a time when Andrew wandered off at Bass Lake.
"I lost him for about ten minutes it was very crowded on the beach that day. It was especially scary because he loves water but he's not a strong swimmer. You're mind goes to the worst possible scenario. But thankfully, he was okay," said Solla.
She specifically moved her family to Fresno for the autism treatment offered by CARD, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. After years of therapy in Washington, she wasn't seeing any results.
Since starting Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA therapy, she is seeing a big difference.
"It's like he's a completely different kid. He's a happier kid. He has less meltdowns, less frustrations because he's able to communicate his needs and desires," said Solla.
Ashley Langeliers the regional clinical manager for CARD said children with autism, although they don't maybe learn skills like typically developing peers do, it doesn't mean that they can't learn.
Langeliers explained how ABA therapy works. "It's about taking skills that are important to know, and breaking them down into really small steps. Steps that are individualized for each child so that that child can be successful in learning them. so whatever the behavior is, there's always hope," said Langeliers.
The federal government is helping families with autistic children. Earlier this year, legislation was proposed that would pay for GPS tracking devices for autistic children. The program would resemble one currently used to keep track of people with alzheimer's disease. The high tech device could be worn on the wrist, kept in a wallet... or sewn into clothing.
A similar program is already being offered by the Madera County Sheriff's Department. It's called the lost and found program.
A radio transmitter, worn like a bracelet, can help locate those with a history of wandering off.
John Anderson with the Madera County Sheriff's Department said "we start at the center and branch out. we've located people that have wandered as far as 20 miles away but we've still been able to locate them."
In one case, the sheriff says they found a within an hour.
Each child with autism is unique, and there are different severities of the disorder.
For the Solla family, moving to Fresno and getting Andrew ABA therapy was the best decision they could have made.
"I feel excited for him. He's had a lot of challenges to overcome. He's also got a lot of great qualities and gifts and talents. And I think he can go really far in life," said Solla.
Sadly, this happens too often in families with autistic children.
"You never think it's going to happen to you," said Michael Sprague grandfather of a child with autism.
Isaac Sprague his grandson, was having fun practicing archery with his grandfather in Hilmar. In an instant, the 7-year old autistic boy disappeared.
"You can't comprehend the feeling when one minute somebody's there and you come back and a few minutes later they're gone and no matter what you do you can't find them," said Sprague.
After eight hours of searching for the boy, the Merced County dive team found Isaac crying in the freezing Merced River.
This time, it turned out good, but many times, it doesn't.
Like when 14-year old Avonte Oquendo wondered away from school. He was found three months later in a river dead.
And little 9-year-old Mikaela Lynch vanished from her backyard. A dive team found her body in a muddy creek.
About half of autistic children are prone to wandering. Add that to the common fascination that many autistic children have with water, and the result is tragic.
"I was terrified. I don't think I've been more scared in my whole life," Jenni Solla mother.
Jenni Solla is mother to 9-year-old Andrew. She vividly remembers a time when Andrew wandered off at Bass Lake.
"I lost him for about ten minutes it was very crowded on the beach that day. It was especially scary because he loves water but he's not a strong swimmer. You're mind goes to the worst possible scenario. But thankfully, he was okay," said Solla.
She specifically moved her family to Fresno for the autism treatment offered by CARD, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. After years of therapy in Washington, she wasn't seeing any results.
Since starting Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA therapy, she is seeing a big difference.
"It's like he's a completely different kid. He's a happier kid. He has less meltdowns, less frustrations because he's able to communicate his needs and desires," said Solla.
Ashley Langeliers the regional clinical manager for CARD said children with autism, although they don't maybe learn skills like typically developing peers do, it doesn't mean that they can't learn.
Langeliers explained how ABA therapy works. "It's about taking skills that are important to know, and breaking them down into really small steps. Steps that are individualized for each child so that that child can be successful in learning them. so whatever the behavior is, there's always hope," said Langeliers.
The federal government is helping families with autistic children. Earlier this year, legislation was proposed that would pay for GPS tracking devices for autistic children. The program would resemble one currently used to keep track of people with alzheimer's disease. The high tech device could be worn on the wrist, kept in a wallet... or sewn into clothing.
A similar program is already being offered by the Madera County Sheriff's Department. It's called the lost and found program.
A radio transmitter, worn like a bracelet, can help locate those with a history of wandering off.
John Anderson with the Madera County Sheriff's Department said "we start at the center and branch out. we've located people that have wandered as far as 20 miles away but we've still been able to locate them."
In one case, the sheriff says they found a within an hour.
Each child with autism is unique, and there are different severities of the disorder.
For the Solla family, moving to Fresno and getting Andrew ABA therapy was the best decision they could have made.
"I feel excited for him. He's had a lot of challenges to overcome. He's also got a lot of great qualities and gifts and talents. And I think he can go really far in life," said Solla.