Alert system could help missing autistic people in Tucson

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Paul Fredrick Blick was found safe after he was last seen at his home southeast of Tucson near Houghton Road and Old Spanish Trail, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

READ: Missing autistic man found safe

Deputies said Blick, 53, is autistic. He functions at the level of a child and has difficulty communicating verbally.

Yet despite these factors, Blick's situation did not prompt a Silver Alert. He is also too old for an Amber Alert.

One group in southern Arizona believes it has the answer to cases like this: a Puzzle Alert.

The free, opt-in system was created by Firefighters vs. Autism as a way for families to quickly spread word about a loved one who might have wandered off.

Justin Lewis, founder of the group, said families living with autism know how quickly someone can walk away and into a dangerous situation.

The goal of the Puzzle Alert is to bring that awareness to the community

"Think of you as a parent, even if you don't have a child with special needs" he said. "Your child goes missing, you would want other people to get off their butts and look."

More than just a notification, the Puzzle Alert instructs users to check nearby pools, ponds or other areas of water because of an autistic person's potential attraction to water.

Lewis said family members can personalize their loved ones information in case he or she has a particular attraction to trains or specific colors or noises.

The alert is currently online, but a smartphone app is also in development now that Firefighters vs. Autism has raised enough money from community fundraisers.

Lewis recently sold the group's firetruck covered in painted puzzle pieces in order to pay for the app development.

At this point, Lewis said the success of Puzzle Alert will depend on user registrations for the free service.

"We need millions and millions of people using this system," he said. "If only a couple thousand of us in Tucson are registered for this and using it, that's a pretty small net."

For more information about the Puzzle Alert, click HERE: http://tucsonne.ws/232Qjl1