Glossary
Wandering (elopement)
When a child or adult who needs supervision leaves a safe place unnoticed. For children with autism, water is a major danger.
Wandering, also called elopement, is when a child or adult who needs supervision leaves a safe place without anyone noticing. It is common among children with autism, and water is one of the biggest dangers. A national survey published in Pediatrics (opens in a new tab) found that 49% of parents said their child with autism had tried to wander or bolt at least once after age 4, and of the children who went missing, 24% were in danger of drowning.
In news-reported drownings of children with autism from 2000 to 2017, most happened in ponds near home after the child wandered off, usually in the afternoon (Guan and Li (opens in a new tab)). The National Autism Association (opens in a new tab) reports that nearly half of wandering incidents happen while a child is with someone other than a parent, and nearly a third from a school setting.
Ways to lower the risk:
- door locks, alarms and safety gates, plus four-sided fences around pools;
- swim lessons as early as possible;
- a written plan shared with school, sitters and family;
- if the child is missing, check nearby water first.
See wandering and water: a safety plan and autism water safety.
What you can do today: list every pond, pool and creek within walking distance of your home.