Autistic children are drowning in Florida stormwater ponds. What can be done?
Tampa Bay Times
Florida lacks legal requirements for barriers around stormwater retention ponds despite the presence of drowning hazards, particularly affecting autistic children who are prone to wandering. This regulatory gap leaves families vulnerable as no fencing mandates exist for these bodies of water unlike residential swimming pools. The absence of such safety measures highlights a critical need for policy changes to prevent further tragedies in the state.
All articles from 18 August 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.