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Writer's pictureKaty Child Psychology

Autism and Wandering Behavior


Did you know that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often drawn to bodies of water? Water can be a multi-sensory experience, which is why it is so pleasurable. Going underwater can create a peaceful quietness and escape from the overstimulating world above water. The way it looks and sounds when splashing, how it tastes or smells, etc. can all be factors that drive children to play in it.


Unfortunately, this seemingly positive experience can be quite dangerous for young children and individuals with special needs, especially those who are non-verbal. According to the National Autism Association, “nearly half of children with autism are at risk for wandering away from a safe setting. Because people with autism are vulnerable to dangerous situations including drowning, traffic incidents, becoming trapped hot cars, etc., it’s important to take critical precautions and be aware that drowning fatalities remain a leading cause of wandering-related death, along with traffic injury…According to a study by NAA, accidental drowning accounts for 71% of lethal outcomes, followed by traffic injuries at 18%.”


It’s heartbreaking that this summer a few of our local families have faced this tragedy. It’s every parent’s worst fear that their child could wander away, especially with a child who is unable to communicate to get help. When a child is reported as missing to police, it could already be too late if water is involved. This is why I would like to share some preventative measures you can take to protect your children, especially if they have ASD or wandering behavior.


Prevention Checklist:

  • Teach your child to respond to their name if they have elopement tendencies. Teaching them to stop, look at you, and return to you if instructed is important for preventing serious injuries such as when playing outside, walking in parking lots, shopping in busy stores, etc. You can work with an ABA therapist on this behavior through positive reinforcement and use of social stories.

  • Use safety latches or alarms on doors and windows to prevent a child getting out of the house without you knowing. Secure your home, outdoor gates, and garage door.

  • Put a gate around your pool and/or sensors in the pool itself to alert you to activity when it is in use.

  • Post visual signs at exits reminding the child to stop and not to leave.

  • Help your child find 1-2 preferred safe areas to go in the classroom/school or at home for when they become dysregulated. Practice going to those areas when needing a break and reinforce them for using it appropriately.

  • Identify and address triggers that lead to elopement. Is your child becoming upset by sensory-related triggers, avoiding a less preferred task, etc.?

  • Teach safety and coping skills and pursue forms of communication, such as with assistive technology, visual aids, sign language, etc. Provide your child with calming/sensory aids as well.

  • Enroll your child in swimming lessons and have them practice being able to swim with regular clothes, such as jeans, shoes, and a sweatshirt on. Most incidents of elopement towards water do not take place when they are wearing swimsuits, and regular clothing can weigh them down. Teach them how to take off heavy items of clothing in water if possible. Drowning accidents occur year-round and not just during summer months. Do not wait to teach them this vital skill. Contact your local YMCA or a swimming school to see if they can accommodate our child’s unique needs.

  • Secure wearable identification and or/locative technology such as GPS trackers, such as those listed at angelsense.com or a similar retailer.

  • Alert relatives, school, and neighbors, as well as first responders in your area of your child’s condition so they are on alert when they see them.

  • Provide your local first responders, including police and fire station, with an identification booklet. You can find them free to download at the following link: NAA's Be REDy Booklet for First Responders (nationalautismassociation.org)

  • Create an emergency plan, just like you would if there was a house fire. Practice it twice a year at least to keep everyone aware and ready. You can download a caregiver Be REDy Booklet at the following link: NAA's Be REDy Booklet for Caregivers (nationalautismassociation.org)

  • Inform your child’s teacher and pediatrician of their tendency to wander or elope.

 

If Your Loved One Is Missing:

  • Remain calm and call 911

  • Immediately check all sources of nearby water first. Check bathtubs, neighborhood retention ponds, neighbor’s pools, water filled ditches, etc.

  • Recruit neighbors and family members to help you search

  • Have a recent photo of your child to provide to neighbors and police, along with a description of what they are likely wearing.

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