Boy who helped first responders better comfort children with autism named TIME’s Kid of the Year

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT/Gray News) - A Virginia boy has been named TIME’s Kid of the Year thanks to his role in helping first responders better comfort children with autism. Nine-year-old Ledger is getting honored for his work, which has included working alongside Henrico County firefighters, paramedics and police officers.First responders in Henrico have been deploying a new set of specialized tools designed to comfort and improve communication with patients on the autism spectrum during emergency calls with the help of Ledger.Known as “LGM Bags,” the clear backpacks are filled with sensory-friendly items, communication boards and therapeutic tools.The program began with a crisis in Prince George County, where Ledger’s father, Sergeant J.T. Mann, a 28-year veteran of county emergency services, was dispatched to search for a missing child with autism.After several hours of searching, the child was found safely, hiding under a grill cover behind a residence.Knowing that individuals on the sp