Preventing Elopement in Children with ASD
Every parent worries about keeping their children safe at home. The fear might be about the cabinet under the sink where you keep the cleaning supplies, or maybe that pointy corner on a coffee table. For the parents of children with autism, the list of worries grows. If you have a child with elopement issues, you have to constantly consider your environment: is that lock high enough to be out of reach? Can my child figure out this new latching system? It can be a constant source of stress.
If your child’s issue is elopement, there are several things you can do to help ensure that they remain in a safe environment. Firstly, work on the behavior itself. Learn your child’s specific triggers for elopement, and work on communication strategies to help prevent your child from feeling the need to run away. Even just working on making sure your child is comfortable hearing the word “no” can make a big difference. Using reinforcement, such as a reward or praise when your child appropriately responds, can help teach this skill.
Beyond that, there are three basic steps to keeping your eloping child safe: secure your home with locks that provide a challenge to your child, alarm the doors so you know that your child is on the move, and employ a safety device that can be used to find your child if they manage to leave anyway.
There are any number of options for locking mechanisms, but one of the simplest things is simply to have a deadbolt installed high up on the door, in reach of parents or guardians, but too high for curious hands. Another option would be a double-sided keyless door lock. These deadbolts have a keypad on both sides, so the door can’t be opened without knowing the code. For a less expensive solution, look into mechanical options, like door guards or pinch locks. These prevent the door from being opened by anyone who doesn’t understand how to disengage the locking mechanism. Some, like the Home Security Door Lock from EverPlus, also add additional security from intruders.
The next step would be to alarm your doors and windows. The options for this step are honestly endless, and range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. You can easily find a pack of door and window alarms online, very inexpensively, that have sticky pads to attach to the door and frame, and emit a loud noise when opened. This might be the simplest and least expensive solution. Beyond that, there are purpose-made alarms, like the Toddlermonitor, which will send an alert to your phone if the door is opened. These options are pricier, but would be less intrusive to your home environment.
Finally, if the worst should happen and your child does elope from the house, having a strategy to locate and bring them home (or to another familiar place) can make all the difference. If your child can tolerate an ID bracelet, the Alert Me Band is a great option. It is custom made with your contact information, any allergies, medical conditions, and more. It’s soft, in order to be more sensory-friendly, and can only be removed by a parent or guardian with a special key. Another option would be a GPS tracker, like the one from AngelSense. It is purpose-made for children with special needs, and has additional features that you won’t find on traditional GPS trackers, like the ability to talk to your child through the built-in speaker on the tracker.
Finally, whether your child struggles with elopement or not, look into getting the Big Red Safety Box from the National Autism Association. This box is free (with an optional donation), and includes window and door alarms, an ID bracelet, educational materials, and much more. It would be a very helpful tool for any autism families.
The most important thing is to have a plan, and to work on preventing the behavior from happening in the first place. Talk to your child’s ABA clinician about what you can do to help address the eloping behavior.
Carrie Pilkington, M.S., BCBA, LMFT
Regional Clinical Director