Mississippi creates a PSA for those with cognitive disabilities

Mississippi is now the second state to have a PSA for people with cognitive disabilities after passing House Bill 873.

The alert will be known as ‘Purple Alert’ an works similarly to amber and silver alerts.

It is specific for missing children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Mika Hartman, Vice President of Gulf Coast Down Syndrome Society, saw Florida have success with their Purple Alert and led her to spearhead the bill in the Mississippi legislature.

Hartman says having this distinction can help aid police and the public in their searches as well as give families a safety net.

“Should Hudson be kidnapped, it could be an amber purple alert. So, you would know 1. He’s been kidnapped, and 2. that he has a cognitive disability and that he is non-verbal. So, like a police-officer approaching Hudson. If he didn’t have the right tools, Hudson may bolt from him as well which could cause Hudson to run into a busy street,” Said Hartman. “Getting the news that Mississippi is protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and putting a measure into place like this. We are now the second state with this, so it shows that we are leading the way in taking care of our families who have disabilities.”