Laila's Gift

10/06/2026

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities may be at risk for wandering or elopement. The LEAD Act aims to protect them.

10/02/2026

The LEAD Act was featured in Yahoo News.

We are grateful this important law is getting national attention and supporting local Maryland caregivers and families.

Learn more and join the movement at Lailasgift.org/lead

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/laws-no-kings-no-trying-093029367.html

The more than 370 bills that became law Thursday are the usual grab bag of serious and silly, of technical tweaks, of answers to sweeping national issues and personal responses to situations that took...

10/01/2026

A total of 300 laws went into effect today in Maryland.

WJZ featured The LEAD Act as 1 of 3 notable laws that went into effect today!

We are glad to see the state is recognizing the importance of building stronger interactions with people living with disabilities 🌻

10/01/2026

“Shari Bailey pushed for a package of bills collectively known as the LEAD Act, for Laila’s Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act. It is named for Bailey’s daughter Laila who is autistic and nonverbal and who one day “eloped” — or wandered off from her caregiver, a situation familiar to many families with autistic kids or those caring for someone with dementia.”

Read more in the full article:

The more than 370 bills that became law Thursday are the usual grab bag of serious and silly, of technical tweaks, of answers to sweeping national issues and personal responses to situations that took young lives in Maryland. Many were years in the making.

10/01/2026

“Today is a defining moment for Maryland, a day when hope begins for families who have carried this crisis alone for far too long,” said Shari Bailey, a leading advocate for the law. “Maryland is not only taking action; it is setting a national example and calling on every state to follow our LEAD.”

Full article below:

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities may be at risk for wandering or elopement. The LEAD Act aims to protect them.

10/01/2026

Today is a historic day for Maryland!

The LEAD Act: Laila’s Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act goes into effect in Maryland.

Laila’s Gift believes elopement is a national public safety and public health crisis. Maryland has taken the first important steps, and now we are encouraging other states to follow our journey, and our LEAD.

What does this mean for Marylanders?

Law enforcement and first responders across Maryland will receive mandatory training on elopement and wandering across the lifespan, including individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and others at risk of going missing.

The required training includes:

✅ Locating individuals who are wandering, eloping, or otherwise missing

✅ Searching near bodies of water

✅ Sensory-aware approaches

✅ Reunification

✅ Documentation

✅ Interagency coordination

✅ And more!

This is only the beginning. Increased awareness and preparedness among communities and those who serve and protect us can save lives.

The right training could be the difference between life and loss.

Maryland has taken the first step. Now, we’re calling on other states to join us.

We are just getting started.

Is your state next to Follow our LEAD?

Learn more in the comments.

10/01/2026

Today is a historic day for Maryland!

The LEAD Act: Laila’s Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act goes into effect in Maryland.

Laila’s Gift believes elopement is a national public safety and public health crisis. Maryland has taken the first important steps, and now we are encouraging other states to follow our journey, and our LEAD.

What does this mean for Marylanders?

Law enforcement and first responders across Maryland will receive mandatory training on elopement and wandering across the lifespan, including individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and others at risk of going missing.

The required training includes:

✅ Locating individuals who are wandering, eloping, or otherwise missing

✅ Searching near bodies of water

✅ Sensory-aware approaches

✅ Reunification

✅ Documentation

✅ Interagency coordination

✅ And more!

This is only the beginning. Increased awareness and preparedness among communities and those who serve and protect us can save lives.

The right training could be the difference between life and loss.

Maryland has taken the first step. Now, we’re calling on other states to join us.

We are just getting started.

Is your state next to Follow our LEAD?

Learn more in the comments.

09/08/2026

Maryland is preparing for the implementation of the LEAD Act.

From the article:

On a summer day at City Ranch, MDOT officers, children with disabilities and adults with disabilities met to learn how to gently and intuitively interact with horses before turning those lessons toward themselves and one another.

The approach comes as Maryland prepares to require specialized police training on interacting with people with disabilities.

Beginning Oct. 1, the LEAD Act will require entry-level and in-service police training on interacting with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia and autism. The training also will cover searching for people with disabilities who have eloped, coordinating search efforts and reunifying them with their families, as well as de-escalation.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/09/07/maryland-police-learn-from-horses/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAUNHFJwZG9mBWZkaWQWUOBZZ-uZMJ5gbdxK2mORaV9rjEvfpWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4PyxJEkDkYh7L1Q3qiEB0NGwgYvlLjhW-WeGci82w-z3mvlc68ynLy0FUsxQ_aem_NcmNet-pLwQKKmaINYuwZg

MDOT police officers and disabled people met to learn how to gently interact with horses and how to interact with each other.

07/02/2026

As we reflect on this year's Sunflower Planting, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.

Thank you for joining us for such a magical day. It was a day filled with smiles, laughter, heartfelt conversations, and moments that reminded us just how powerful community can be 🌻

🌻 Together, We Planted More Than Sunflowers... We Planted Hope.Wh...