Cell phone users are accustomed to receiving alerts, especially in the spring when weather is a top concern in Tornado Alley. In addition, there’s the familiar squawk associated with AMBER alerts for missing and abducted children as well as SILVER alerts for missing persons, especially senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other mental disabilities.

Mika Hartman wants to add PURPLE to the national emergency alert network for vulnerable individuals with cognitive disabilities.

The former Mika Cotten, daughter of Larry and Brenda Cotten of Sallisaw, is a 1994 graduate of Central High School. She and her husband, Lt. Col. Clinton Hartman, live near Biloxi, Miss., with their three children — Hayden, 26; Henley, 16; and Hudson, 6. Hudson has Down syndrome.

“A PURPLE Alert serves as a valuable tool in protecting vulnerable individuals, such as children like Hudson or any age persons with cognitive disabilities, from potential harm,” Hartman says. “The alert system can provide essential details about a person’s specific needs, medications and daily requirements, aiding in their safe recovery in case of abduction or wandering. By advocating for the implementation of the PURPLE Alert in more states, like Oklahoma, the safety and well-being of individuals with cognitive disabilities can be better ensured.”

There have been multiple recent instances of special needs individuals wandering off, leading to dangerous situations. In Pennsylvania, a 17-year-old was dropped off at a school that was closed due to reported odors, resulting in her disappearance for more than eight hours before being found in downtown Pittsburg. Similarly, a 4-year-old with autism went missing for more than 24 hours, but was eventually located with the help of more than 100 volunteers. A man with Down syndrome, Rashawn Williams, was missing for six days in a locked closet in Washington, D.C.

“These incidents highlight the constant fear and anxiety experienced by families with special needs individuals who are prone to wandering,” Hartman says.

“Stories of children escaping from their homes despite multiple locks on doors are not uncommon. One mother struggles to keep her son from wandering miles away from home, despite her best efforts to secure the house. In another case in Jackson, Miss., a child repeatedly goes missing, causing panic for his family. Even in Florida, a child ran away and was found close to a pond, prompting his mother to enroll him in swimming lessons out of fear.

“The risk of drowning is a significant concern for families of special needs individuals who tend to wander. Tragic deaths often occur due to drowning when these individuals wander away. Many families, like ours with Hudson who requires a wheelchair for safety in public places due to his love for water, weigh the risks and benefits of going out. The need for additional safety measures, such as the implementation of a PURPLE Alert, becomes crucial to prevent such incidents,” she says.

Hartman says the introduction of the PURPLE Alert in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, which follows Florida’s lead, “is a step towards enhancing the safety of individuals with cognitive disabilities.”

The alert system is designed to provide law enforcement and the public with vital information to aid in the quick and safe recovery of missing persons. By including PURPLE to other alerts, Hartman believes it will provide needed information about cognitive disabilities in alerts like AMBER or SILVER.

“That is why I asked to make our alert be a ‘stand alone’ or ‘in combination with’,” Hartman says. “This makes ours very different from the other states.”

Through collaborative efforts and advocacy, Hartman and DeAnna Gaines of Oklahoma City have worked toward implementing laws and alerts to protect individuals with cognitive disabilities. Both Hudson’s Law in Mississippi and Courtney’s Law in Oklahoma — both Down syndrome information laws — are examples of helping pass needed laws across state lines.

“By raising awareness and support for initiatives like the PURPLE Alert, communities can come together to safeguard those who are most vulnerable and in need of assistance. This proactive approach is essential in preventing tragedies and ensuring the safety of all individuals, regardless of their cognitive abilities,” Hartman says.

“I’m ready to help anyone bring the PURPLE Alert to Oklahoma. Hudson should be protected while visiting his grandmother in Sallisaw or his grandfather at Lake Tenkiller, too.”

Hartman has helped pass four laws in Mississippi for the disability community, which have been featured in books, magazines and podcasts. In addition, Hartman writes a monthly article for 11 newspapers in Mississippi, and is dedicated to continuing to move awareness to full acceptance for her son with Down syndrome.

“The Lord asks us to be a voice for those without one. I’m making mine loud,” Hartman says.