Maryland’s LEAD Act took effect October 1, 2026
When someone with autism, an intellectual or developmental disability, dementia, or another cognitive disability elopes or wanders, prepared communities can make all the difference.
Maryland took action. Now, Laila’s Gift is helping families, advocates, and changemakers across the country bring that change home.
Could your state be next to Follow our LEAD?
Pick your state to see how LEAD is growing there. It takes two minutes to complete the form, and we’ll send a message to your state legislators urging them to sponsor the LEAD Act where you live.
Enter your address and the letter goes to the legislators who represent you.
The LEAD Act turns emergencies into rescues and replaces confusion with understanding.
For families and caregivers, elopement is not a distant risk. It is a daily safety concern, for children with autism, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and older adults living with dementia.
Trained officers know how to recognize elopement risk, search effectively, and approach a frightened or nonverbal person in a way that builds trust instead of escalating the situation. Without that training, response depends on where you live and which officer arrives.
The LEAD Act, Laila’s Elopement Awareness & Dissemination Act, makes preparedness the standard, not the exception.
Sources: National Autism Association (2022, 2024); Alzheimer's Association.
Maryland’s LEAD Act passed with bipartisan support and no fiscal impact, and took effect October 1, 2026. It requires standardized statewide training for law enforcement on how to respond when a person with autism, dementia, or another cognitive disability goes missing. With 1 in 31 children on the autism spectrum and 7.2 million older Americans living with Alzheimer’s, every state needs the same. Maryland proved it can be done. Now we’re leading a nationwide movement.
Maryland now requires entrance-level and in-service police training on autism, dementia, and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including:
Maryland SB 745 / HB 634 · Chapter 659 · Signed May 26, 2026 · Took effect October 1, 2026
Read the Maryland lawThree are already law in Maryland. The rest are next, and every state can follow the same path.
Maryland proved it can be done.
Pick your state. It takes two minutes, and we'll send your message to the legislators who represent you.
