Connecticut has just joined a small but growing club of states rolling out the Purple Alert-a system designed to help find missing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If you’ve ever worried about a loved one wandering off, you know this is no small potatoes. The Purple Alert is a real game-changer for families and law enforcement, and it’s been a long time coming.
What’s Different About the Purple Alert?
Let’s break it down:
- The Purple Alert is for adults 18 and up with IDD or cognitive challenges, including Alzheimer’s.
- It’s triggered when someone goes missing and a 911 call is made. The info goes straight to the same state team that handles Amber and Silver Alerts, but with extra details tailored for this community.
- The system uses the “Bring Me Home” registry. Families can add photos, languages, and other info to help police help their loved one if they ever go missing.
Why Was This Needed?
Connecticut already had Amber Alerts (for kids) and Silver Alerts (for older adults or those with mental health issues). But here’s the rub: Silver Alerts were too broad. They covered everyone from 18 to 64 with mental disabilities and all people over 65. That made it tough for police to respond quickly and appropriately when someone with IDD disappeared. As one police official put it, a 17-year-old who’s able-bodied isn’t nearly as vulnerable as someone with autism or dementia.
State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, who helped champion the new law, was inspired after hearing about a local family whose adult daughter with IDD went missing. The police wouldn’t issue a Silver Alert because she was over 18, and the search dragged on. That story lit a fire under lawmakers to get this right.
How Does the Purple Alert Work?
- When a Purple Alert is issued, posters and notifications go out to the public, just like with Amber and Silver Alerts.
- First responders now carry sensory-friendly gear-think heavy blankets and headphones-to help calm and comfort the person when they’re found.
- Officers are getting special training, too. They’re learning how to talk to people with IDD or autism-slower speech, eye contact, and patience go a long way.
Relevant Insights
- Connecticut is the fifth state to launch a Purple Alert. Florida, for example, has had a similar system since 2022.
- The CDC estimates that 7 to 8 million Americans live with some form of IDD.
- Since launching, Connecticut has already issued about a dozen Purple Alerts. That’s a lot, considering it’s only been a couple of weeks.
- About 430 families have signed up for the Bring Me Home registry so far.
Our Take
Honestly, we’re surprised more states haven’t jumped on this bandwagon. When someone with IDD goes missing, every minute counts. The search area grows, anxiety skyrockets, and families are left wringing their hands, hoping for the best. The Purple Alert is a simple idea with a huge impact. It’s like adding another tool to the toolbox-one that’s been missing for far too long.
And let’s not kid ourselves: no system is perfect. There will be hiccups. But Connecticut’s move is a big step forward, and it’s bound to save lives and bring peace of mind to families who’ve been left in the lurch for too long.
If you ask us, this is one of those rare cases where government got it right. Here’s hoping other states follow suit, because when it comes to finding missing loved ones, you can never have too many eyes on the lookout.
Citations:
- FOX61 Staff. (2025, May 6). Connecticut unveils ‘Purple Alert’ to assist missing persons with cognitive disabilities. FOX61. https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/connecticut-unveils-purple-alert-assist-missing-persons-with-cognitive-disabilities/520-fb893955-fc4e-4780-8d05-f620725ccb96
- Connecticut State Police. (2025, March 26). Training Bulletin #2025-06: New Purple Alert Program. Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/post/general_notices/2025/gn-25-08/2025006-training-bulletin-purple-alert-32625-1.pdf
- LegiScan. (2025). Legislative research: CT HB06648 (2025) General Assembly. https://legiscan.com/CT/research/HB06648/2025
- News 12 Staff. (2025, May 7). CT starts Purple Alert for missing people with cognitive disabilities. News 12 Connecticut. http://connecticut.news12.com/ct-starts-purple-alert-for-missing-people-with-cognitive-disabilities
- TrackBill. (2023). An act establishing a Purple Alert system. https://trackbill.com/bill/connecticut-house-bill-5960-an-act-establishing-a-purple-alert-system/2319227/
- Journal Inquirer. (2025, May 7). Conn. launches Purple Alerts for intellectually disabled adults. GovTech. https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/conn-launches-purple-alerts-for-intellectually-disabled-adults
- WTNH News 8. (2025, May 6). Purple Alert can help find missing people with developmental disabilities. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/purple-alert-help-missing-people-211825746.html
- Vigdor, N. (2025, May 7). CT launches Purple Alert to find missing people with disabilities. CTPost. https://www.ctpost.com/connecticut/article/ct-purple-alert-missing-disabled-adults-20312857.php
