ELOPEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)
Research shows that about 1 in 3 young children with ASD will try to wander off. This behavior may continue into adolescence and adulthood.
What is wandering off (elopement)?
Elopement is when a person tries to leave the safety of a responsible person’s care or a safe area. Harm or injury may then happen. Elopement is common in all toddlers. However, sometimes, wandering may continue or return in older children and adults with ASD.
Up to half of children with ASD who wander are missing long enough to concern their parents. In a national survey, 1 out of 3 parents said they have called the police to help find their child. Two out of 3 parents have said their wandering children had close calls with traffic injuries. About 1 in 3 parents reported near drowning in water. Older children and adults with ASD who wander may also have challenges with law enforcement officers. This might happen when they do not answer officers in a way officers expect or if they can’t communicate at all. Untrained officers may mistakenly think that people with ASD are drunk or are using drugs.
Why do children with ASD wander off?
Children with ASD wander off for a variety of reasons. Some reasons cited by parents include:
- Enjoying running or exploring
- Wanting to go to a place they enjoy (such as the park)
- Trying to get out of an anxious situation (such as challenges at school)
- Looking for a special interest (like when a child who loves trains heads for train tracks)
- Trying to get away from uncomfortable things like loud noises, bad tastes, etc.
Wandering can happen anywhere and anytime. Parents and caregivers should pay close attention and not get distracted when caring for a child with ASD. This is especially true during events with large crowds of people. Settings like these create changes in routine. It is also important for parents and caregivers to provide extra supervision if a child is playing outside and/or around water.
Secure your home. This might include putting on dead bolt locks, a home security alarm system, alarms on doors and windows, or fencing around your yard.
Teach different behaviors. If a child wanders to get something or to get away from a situation, teach him other ways to communicate his needs or wants.
Alert your neighbors. By knowing your neighbors, you can lower the risk that comes with wandering. Give them identifying information about your child and make sure they have your contact information should he wander to your neighbor’s home.
What else can help keep my child safe?
Make a family wandering emergency plan. Have other caregivers such as grandparents or school staff help create a safety plan. The Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education Collaboration and the National Autism Association Big Red Safety Box program have sample plans that can be downloaded.
Keep an emergency form. Make up-to-date information cards about your child, with a picture and a description of what your child looks like. These can be given to neighbors, police, and school staff in case your child wanders.
Consider home safety measures. Low-cost home changes may be helpful, such as door and window alarms. You can also place STOP or safety alert signs on home windows, doors, or car windows.
Consider a tracking device. These devices can be worn on the child’s wrist, ankle, or shoes. Check with your local law enforcement agency for more information.
Consider an ID bracelet or another ID device. These include the child’s name, telephone number, and other important information. If your child will not wear a bracelet, it can be placed on shoe strings. There are many other ways to identify your child (like temporary tattoos). When your family is vacationing away form home, it is especially important that your child has some form of ID that can be easily seen in case of wandering.
Teach safety skills. Work with your therapy team to understand your child’s safety skills and then teach skills to help your child identify himself and stay safe (e.g. say your name, respond to “Stop,” wear and show an ID bracelet).
Teach your child to swim. Ask your pediatrician if there are groups that offer swimming lessons for children with special needs in your area. If you own a pool, fence it in completely and have gates that self-close and self-latch higher than your child’s reach. You can also install a pool alarm, which is triggered by waves from a human that has entered the pool after the alarm has been set. You can also contact the National Autism Society for a list of states that offer swim lessons as part of its Autism & Safety Program: https://nationalautismassociation/org/resources/autism-safety-facts/swimming-instructions.
Alert area police and fire departments. Your community may have programs that allow you to give police, firefighters, or other first responders information about your child before wandering happens. This information could include emergency contact information, a photo, and any other helpful information about your child.
Consider medical or behavioral treatments. A behavioral specialist may help with wandering at home, in the community, or at school. Treatment of anxiety, attention problems, impulsivity, or hyperactivity may also lower wandering risk. Talk with your child’s pediatrician or a behavioral specialist about assessing and treating your child’s mental health conditions.
Adapted from information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
AAP Feed run on: 9/14/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/14/2024
ELOPEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)
Research shows that about 1 in 3 young children with ASD will try to wander off. This behavior may continue into adolescence and adulthood.
What is wandering off (elopement)?
Elopement is when a person tries to leave the safety of a responsible person’s care or a safe area. Harm or injury may then happen. Elopement is common in all toddlers. However, sometimes, wandering may continue or return in older children and adults with ASD.
Up to half of children with ASD who wander are missing long enough to concern their parents. In a national survey, 1 out of 3 parents said they have called the police to help find their child. Two out of 3 parents have said their wandering children had close calls with traffic injuries. About 1 in 3 parents reported near drowning in water. Older children and adults with ASD who wander may also have challenges with law enforcement officers. This might happen when they do not answer officers in a way officers expect or if they can’t communicate at all. Untrained officers may mistakenly think that people with ASD are drunk or are using drugs.
Why do children with ASD wander off?
Children with ASD wander off for a variety of reasons. Some reasons cited by parents include:
- Enjoying running or exploring
- Wanting to go to a place they enjoy (such as the park)
- Trying to get out of an anxious situation (such as challenges at school)
- Looking for a special interest (like when a child who loves trains heads for train tracks)
- Trying to get away from uncomfortable things like loud noises, bad tastes, etc.
Wandering can happen anywhere and anytime. Parents and caregivers should pay close attention and not get distracted when caring for a child with ASD. This is especially true during events with large crowds of people. Settings like these create changes in routine. It is also important for parents and caregivers to provide extra supervision if a child is playing outside and/or around water.
Secure your home. This might include putting on dead bolt locks, a home security alarm system, alarms on doors and windows, or fencing around your yard.
Teach different behaviors. If a child wanders to get something or to get away from a situation, teach him other ways to communicate his needs or wants.
Alert your neighbors. By knowing your neighbors, you can lower the risk that comes with wandering. Give them identifying information about your child and make sure they have your contact information should he wander to your neighbor’s home.
What else can help keep my child safe?
Make a family wandering emergency plan. Have other caregivers such as grandparents or school staff help create a safety plan. The Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education Collaboration and the National Autism Association Big Red Safety Box program have sample plans that can be downloaded.
Keep an emergency form. Make up-to-date information cards about your child, with a picture and a description of what your child looks like. These can be given to neighbors, police, and school staff in case your child wanders.
Consider home safety measures. Low-cost home changes may be helpful, such as door and window alarms. You can also place STOP or safety alert signs on home windows, doors, or car windows.
Consider a tracking device. These devices can be worn on the child’s wrist, ankle, or shoes. Check with your local law enforcement agency for more information.
Consider an ID bracelet or another ID device. These include the child’s name, telephone number, and other important information. If your child will not wear a bracelet, it can be placed on shoe strings. There are many other ways to identify your child (like temporary tattoos). When your family is vacationing away form home, it is especially important that your child has some form of ID that can be easily seen in case of wandering.
Teach safety skills. Work with your therapy team to understand your child’s safety skills and then teach skills to help your child identify himself and stay safe (e.g. say your name, respond to “Stop,” wear and show an ID bracelet).
Teach your child to swim. Ask your pediatrician if there are groups that offer swimming lessons for children with special needs in your area. If you own a pool, fence it in completely and have gates that self-close and self-latch higher than your child’s reach. You can also install a pool alarm, which is triggered by waves from a human that has entered the pool after the alarm has been set. You can also contact the National Autism Society for a list of states that offer swim lessons as part of its Autism & Safety Program: https://nationalautismassociation/org/resources/autism-safety-facts/swimming-instructions.
Alert area police and fire departments. Your community may have programs that allow you to give police, firefighters, or other first responders information about your child before wandering happens. This information could include emergency contact information, a photo, and any other helpful information about your child.
Consider medical or behavioral treatments. A behavioral specialist may help with wandering at home, in the community, or at school. Treatment of anxiety, attention problems, impulsivity, or hyperactivity may also lower wandering risk. Talk with your child’s pediatrician or a behavioral specialist about assessing and treating your child’s mental health conditions.
Adapted from information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
AAP Feed run on: 9/14/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/14/2024
