Eloping Prevention and Statistics

As the frequency of developmental impairments in the country rises, there is a greater need to identify behaviors that may jeopardize our children’s safety and well-being.  Autism Speaks and other advocacy organizations have recognized that elopement is a serious challenge and can put a substantial strain on our families.

According to a study conducted by Bridget Kiely et al, in 2016, 26.7% of children had reportedly eloped within the previous year, most commonly from public places. “Children with ASD-only and ASD+ID/DD (Intellectual Disability/Developmental Delay) were more likely to have eloped than those with ID/DD-only.”

The same group of researchers established that the group of wanderers were more likely to:

• Be unaware of danger
• Have difficulty recognizing strangers from familiar individuals
• Experience sudden mood changes
• Overreact to everything/everyone 
• Show anger quickly 
• Become disoriented easily 
• Panic in new settings or when unexpected change occurs

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Autism Association show that:

• 49% of children with autism will elope
• 35% will attempt to elope at least once per week
• More than 1/3 of children who elope are not able to communicate their name, address or phone number
• Accidental drowning accounts for 90% of eloping fatalities
• 42% of autism-related eloping involving a child aged nine or younger ends in death

What To Do To Prevent Children From Eloping and How to Keep Them Safe

Here are some strategies that can help prevent children with disabilities from eloping, or wandering away from safe environments:

1. Communication and Education: Teach your children about safety precautions and why they need to remain in designated places. Help them comprehend the idea of limits and potential hazards by using visual aids, social stories, and other suitable communication techniques.
2. Secure the Environment: Implement safety measures at home, school, and any other relevant settings. Install childproof locks on doors and windows, and consider using alarms or chimes that notify you when a door or window is opened. Fencing the yard and securing any potential escape routes can also help.
3. Supervision: Put safety precautions into place at home, school, and everywhere else that is pertinent. Consider installing alarms or whistles that alert you when a door or window is opened, and install childproof locks on all of your doors and windows. It can also be beneficial to fence the yard and secure any potential escape routes.
4. Identification and Tracking: Make sure your child always carries an identification, like a medical alert necklace or bracelet. Additionally, think about utilizing GPS monitoring technologies that can assist in finding a child in case they walk off, such as wearable technology.
5. Sensory Supports: Identify your child’s sensory needs and take appropriate action. Some kids may wander as a result of their sensory-seeking tendencies. The tendency to roam can be lessened by providing the right sensory input, such as sensory breaks, activities, or equipment to reduce the impulse to wander.
6. Social Skills Training: Teach and reinforce social skills to help children understand appropriate behavior, develop communication skills, and build relationships. This can increase their ability to seek help from trusted individuals instead of wandering away.
7. Engage in Activities: To prevent them from wandering and to keep them focused, offer intriguing and stimulating activities. Encourage involvement in organized routines, interests, and activities that catch their attention.
8. Create a Visual Schedule: To assist children in understanding daily routines and changes, use visual schedules and cues. This might lessen anxiety and give a sense of predictability, which may lessen the impulse to elope.
9. Collaboration and Support: Stay in contact with the child’s teachers, therapists, and other caregivers and develop together a thorough strategy for avoiding elopement. Share what you have in place with them and solicit their input.
10. Teach Community Safety:Teach the value of community safety. Teach kids how to recognize and approach trustworthy strangers, such as store staff or police officers, if they require assistance.

Remember, each child is unique, and the strategies that work may vary. It’s essential to assess the specific needs of the child and collaborate with professionals to develop a personalized plan to prevent elopement.

The following is a list of resources cited in the CDC page about Disability and Safety: Information on Wandering (Elopement)

AWAARE.org
This site has information and resources to prevent and respond to potentially dangerous wandering.  This includes The Big Red Safety Toolkit for caregivers.The Interactive Autism (IAN) Network has surveyed caregivers about the occurrence of wandering among children with ASD and their siblings.

Autism Speaks’ Safety Project
This site includes information and tips on safety for people with ASD and their families.

Autism Society
The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
This organization has put together tools and guides for first responders and search terms to help in training and response to missing children with special needs.