CW: Missing Person
With summer fast approaching, water safety is vital, especially for disabled people. Beaches, oceans, lakes, and rivers are dangerous even for seasoned swimmers. The immediate hazards of these environments include strong currents, rip currents, shifts in weather conditions, wave activity, and limited visibility.
Davoris Carter III was on a field trip to Wildwood Beach in New Jersey with his school when he disappeared earlier this week. The 14-year-old has “special needs,” according to local news sources. Tragic incidents like this illustrate the risks posed by open-water environments.
Advocates say that disabled people can face additional safety risks around water. Factors such as physical barriers, limited adaptive equipment, insufficient supervision, and a lack of accessible swimming lessons can increase the risk of accidents and drowning among disabled people.
For people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, such as autism, the risks can be even greater. Water is often a favorite recreational or therapeutic activity for autistic people. A 2016 study published in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, found that many autistic children enjoy swimming significantly more than non-autistic children.
Experts say that these dangers don’t mean that disabled people can’t enjoy water activities. Instead, they emphasize targeted safety planning, proper supervision by qualified professionals, accessible swimming instruction, the use of life jackets when appropriate, and an understanding of environmental threats.
The disappearance of Davoris Carter III serves as a reminder of how quickly emergencies can arise in open water and of the importance of water safety for families, educators, caregivers, and communities. I hope he is found safe.
Sources:
Anderson, Connie, et al. ‘Occurrence and Family Impact of Elopement in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders’. Pediatrics, vol. 130, no. 5, Nov. 2012, pp. 870–877, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-0762.
Eversole, Molly, et al. “Leisure Activity Enjoyment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 46, no. 1, 2016, pp. 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2529-z.
Greenberg, Ted. “14-Year-Old Boy Remains Missing After Swimming During School Trip in Wildwood.” NBC10 Philadelphia, 3 June 2026, https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/boy-remains-missing-swimming-during-school-trip-wildwood-new-jersey/4411057/.