Mother Proposes Pool Safety Laws After Son's Death
Haley Wilder is seeking new pool and home safety rules after her autistic son, Waylon, drowned in a neighbor's pool.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Special Needs
Haley Wilder proposed two safety policies after her autistic son, Waylon, wandered into a neighbor's pool and drowned. The family is also launching Waylon's Legacy Foundation to address safety gaps for families of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Why it matters
Waylon had a tendency to elope, and the family believes better safeguards such as a pool alarm could have made a difference. Their proposals aim to close gaps in existing safety requirements for families in Hendersonville and across the region.
The family is proposing Waylon's Law to extend pool alarm requirements to existing in-ground pools and requiring covers on unheated in-ground pools. The survey and two petitions will gather input from families about their safety challenges.
The players
Haley Wilder
Haley Wilder is the mother of Waylon Wilder and leads the family's push for pool and home safety legislation and the launch of Waylon's Legacy Foundation.
The details
Waylon Wilder, who was autistic and had a tendency to elope, wandered into a neighbor's pool and drowned. His mother, Haley Wilder, is advocating for the Waylon Safe Steps Act, which focuses on home safety, alongside the pool measures.
Timeline
The date of Waylon's drowning was not provided in the source extraction.
Legacy Requirements
Current pool alarm requirements generally apply to newly built pools, leaving many existing in-ground pools outside their scope. Waylon's Law would extend those alarm requirements to older pools, closing that gap for families with children prone to wandering.
Families in Hendersonville with children who wander may see new pool alarm and cover requirements if Waylon's Law advances. The petitions and survey give local families a direct way to share the safety gaps they face.
The takeaway
Pool alarms and covers are among the most direct safeguards available for households with children who elope, and families can check their own pools now.
Further reading
Explore more special needs coverage for families navigating safety and care challenges.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF).
