Fort Smith residents help nonverbal child with autism find his family

Titeona and Shad Hughes are receiving widespread praise for their rapid response to a distressing situation involving Sidney Ivy, a young boy with nonverbal autism, who was found running across a busy street in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on April 2, coinciding with World Autism Day. Shad Hughes jumped into action, stopping traffic to save the boy, while Titeona leveraged social media to locate Sidney's family, which proved effective within minutes. Sidney's mother, Krystal Ivy, shared that her son had been missing for about 30 minutes, reportedly upset over not being able to buy his favorite Goldfish crackers. Following the reunion, Titeona initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support the Ivy family, addressing their urgent needs, including safety measures for Sidney. The community's response has been heartwarming, with contributions that include safety devices like a tracker bracelet, which will help Krystal keep tabs on her son in the future.

She expressed her gratitude, stating that the kindness shown by the Hughes family provided her with peace of mind. This incident highlights the critical need for community awareness and understanding of autism, as well as the strength found in local support networks. Krystal's story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing autism signs and fostering acceptance in the community.