What is Elopement?
- Elopement, also known as wandering, running away, bolting, and fleeing, describes the behaviour of leaving a safe place without permission. Elopement is a common challenge for autistic individuals.
- Reasons for wandering include: enjoyment of running or exploring, to get to a place they enjoy, to get out of a situation that causes stress, or to go see something interesting.
- Wandering and elopement may or may not cause imminent harm (e.g., the risk is lower in a grocery store versus in a high-traffic area or near a body of water).
- Times of increased risk include: times of transition, playing outdoors, family and social gatherings, overnight hours, and stressful or emotionally salient times.
Statistics on Elopement
- Nearly half of autistic children engage in elopement behavior, with many at risk for bodily harm.
- Roughly a quarter of autistic children who elope are missing long enough to cause concern. Of those who are reported missing, 1/4 are in danger of drowning and 2/3 are in danger of traffic injury.
- Elopement risk is associated with autism severity, assessed using measures of social responsiveness.
- Neurotypical siblings have significantly lower rates of elopement compared to autistic siblings.
Impact on Caregivers
- More than half of parents say wandering is among the most stressful behaviors associated with autism.
- More than 60% of families with autistic family members do not attend activities outside the home due to fears of wandering behaviours.
- Forty percent of parents/caregivers say that these fears impact their sleep.
- Only 14% of families with children who wander have received guidance from a medical professional.
What does this mean?
- There is a need to develop strategies and interventions to reduce the risk of elopement and wandering behaviours in autistic individuals.
- Families coping with the stress of elopement need additional supports.
- Childcare providers, educators, and first responders could benefit from training on elopement and wandering behaviours.
- Injury prevention and safety skill-building measures could help reduce the risk of elopement.
- There is a need for more Canadian research on elopement prevalence and intervention.
What can we do?
- Plan
- Observe your child's behaviours, create a safety plan, and keep identification (e.g., ID bracelet or information card) on them at all times.
- Prevent
- Take preventative measures, such as installing physical barriers, tamperproof locks, bells, or alarms.
- Inform neighbours, school workers, and first responders.
- Notice any signs that might indicate a child is thinking about wandering.
- Teach Safety Skills
- Crossing the street and swimming.
- Stating personal information (i.e., name and phone number) or showing ID.
- Responding to safety commands (e.g., "stop").
Contributed By: Autism Ontario
