So I recently did a post on safety products to consider for an individual at risk of wandering or elopement, but then ABOARD (The Advisory Board On Autism and Related Disorders) sent out a newsletter discussing this very topic!
Among information on the experiences of William LaFever in Utah and Robert Wood, Jr. in Virginia was a gem: information on an initiative called AWAARE.
AWAARE cites data from April 2011, as collected by the Kennedy Krieger Institute, that children with Autism attempt leave safe areas (elope, bolt, run, wander) at a rate that is four times that of their siblings, particularly between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Another surprising statistic included is that half of the parents asked stated that a professional had never advised them on elopement.
This organization provides free content for download including prevention materials, safety information, and emergency plans to be completed by family directly from their website homepage. (Scroll to the bottom of the page after clicking the link and items are listed in red print).
Additionally, they provide information on Big Red Safety Box program, sponsored by the National Autism Association. This program provides families with several safety products (including 2 door/window alarms, ID tags, and a wristband) for free, based on donations from others of $35 per kit.
Hopefully this initiative will continue to provide awareness of the dangers of wandering and support those most in need of safety items.
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