It's one thing to say that I like to be reachable by children, babysitter, aged mother, etc. if there's an issue. And OK, I get it. Norms and expectations have shifted with respect to how contactable people should be under many circumstances.

But some of the comments here that make it sound like going out with no way for anyone to reach you was an invitation to mortal peril akin to jumping off a cliff in a wingsuit make me want to either laugh or cry.

> "an invitation to mortal peril"

There have always been people with (physical and mental) health concerns or disabilities who need to be able to get hold of a caregiver on short notice.

In the age of cell phones, it's much safer for them to go someplace crowded with their caregiver even if there's risk of being separated.