StepSafe Kids media resources

StepSafe Kids is an affordable cellular GPS tracker for children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and other special needs who are prone to wandering. Founded by 17-year-old Ashwin Chunchu in Toronto, StepSafe uses real cellular GPS rather than Bluetooth-based tracking, ships with its microphone permanently disabled so it cannot listen or record, and costs $9.99 USD per month or $249 USD once for lifetime service, compared with competitors charging up to $1,200 per year in subscription alone (pricing verified July 20, 2026).

Ashwin Chunchu is 17 and based in Toronto. Before writing a line of product spec, he spent six months talking with more than 100 families of children who wander, in autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome communities, about what existing trackers get wrong.

What he learned shaped everything: nearly half of children with autism attempt to wander from safe settings, and drowning is the leading cause of death among those who do. Yet the most trusted tracker on the market costs families $840 to $1,200 a year in subscription alone (pricing verified July 20, 2026). Families call it the disability tax: the more your child needs protection, the more you pay for it.

So he built the alternative those families asked for: real cellular GPS that works anywhere with cell coverage, wearing options designed for kids with sensory sensitivities (clip, lanyard, or hidden sock clip), a permanently disabled microphone so schools cannot object, and a price a single-income family can sustain. StepSafe Kids launches on Kickstarter August 4, 2026, with manufacturing handled by JIMI IoT, which ships over 1.7 million tracking devices a year.

• What it is: a clip-on cellular GPS tracker for children who wander, with real-time location, safe zone alerts, water hazard alerts, and fall detection
• Kickstarter launch: August 4, 2026. Estimated delivery to backers: February 2027
• Pricing: from $99 USD (Early Bird) with a $9.99/month Founder's Price locked for life, or $249 USD once for Lifetime Pro with no subscription ever. Planned retail: $149 + $14.99/month
• Nearly half (49%) of children with autism attempt to elope from a safe environment (National Autism Association, citing the Interactive Autism Network)
• Drowning is the leading cause of death following wandering incidents among children with autism (National Autism Association; Columbia University research on autism mortality, American Journal of Public Health)
• Privacy by design: the microphone is permanently disabled and cannot listen, record, or be switched on by anyone, including us, which also makes the device acceptable in schools
• Connectivity: embedded SIM included, LTE cellular coverage in 170+ countries, no phone plan required
• Hardware: manufactured by JIMI IoT on an FCC and CE certified platform; Canadian ISED certification in progress with Nemko

• A 17-year-old founder taking on a safety market priced for institutions, not families
• The disability tax angle: families of special needs children routinely pay up to $1,200 a year for basic safety technology (pricing verified July 20, 2026, sources at stepsafekids.com/pricing-sources)
• Child safety with real stakes: wandering and drowning are the leading fatal risks for autistic children, and most families have no plan
• Community-designed: built from interviews with 100+ affected families, including the choice to permanently disable the microphone

High-resolution files will be available here before launch. Email us for early access.

Ashwin Chunchu, Founder
support@stepsafekids.com
Replies within a day. Interviews welcome.

• Website: stepsafekids.com
• Kickstarter: campaign page goes live August 4, 2026 (link will be added here at launch)
• Instagram: @stepsafekids
• X: @stepsafekids
• Facebook: StepSafe Kids