GPS Tracking Service

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Protecting the Innocents with GPS Technology

As of the year 2008, there were 488,534 cases of mental retardation in children/young adults between the ages of 3 and 22 years (in the United States and outlying areas). There are approximately 340,000 people in the United States with Downs Syndrome. Between 1 and 1.5 million people in America have an autistic-type disorder. There are other types of mental retardation (PKU, cretinism, microcephaly, cerebral palsy, etc.) and varying levels of retardation from mild, moderate to severe, and profound.

Mental retardation can be caused by genetic conditions, traumatic injuries, disease, or substance abuse during pregnancy. Some conditions are caused by problems at birth, such as the infant not receiving oxygen quickly enough. Some forms of developmental disabilities are termed intellectual disabilities, which can also be caused by traumatic injuries or disease. Children with mental disabilities often exhibit characteristics such as a delays in verbal development, difficulty with memory or problem solving, and may take extra time in learning to care for themselves and function in social settings. The National Institute for Mental Health estimates that one in ten children are affected to the point of impairment by a mental disorder.

The good news is that nearly 87% of adults with a disability will be able to live independently and may not even be perceived as having a disability. The other 13% will need extra care, guidance, love, and support. There are also individuals with physical disabilities, also due to injuries, illness, or problems during pregnancy or birth. These disabilities may include vision impairment, hearing impairment, and the limited use of limbs, to name a few.

Family members and caregivers of individuals with any type of disability will need encouragement and support as they meet the needs of their loved one. Many employers offer assistance programs. Private clinics and social agencies as well as religious institutions can help. Local support groups may also be of assistance. One type of assistance to consider for parents or guardians of a mentally or physically challenged child would be the use of a GPS tracking device. Consider the anxiety one would experience if their child roamed away and did not know how to ask for help or where to find it. As with Alzheimer’s patients, children with disabilities may become injured if they become lost. In today’s society, even disabled children are at risk for being abducted.

A GPS tracking device can help with the parent’s task by giving them constant access to the whereabouts of their child if they happen to wander away or are abducted. The system involves approximately 24 satellites that orbit in space and work in groups of two or three to determine the latitude and longitude of the individual on earth wearing the receiver. This information downloads constantly and can be accessed through the internet or a mobile device. Consider the extra protection and support that a GPS tracking device will give as an investment of love in the special needs child.

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