Autism, Wandering, and Water Safety
If your child is missing, call 9-1-1 immediately. Up to half of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will leave a safe place without telling anyone. This wandering behavior, also called elopement or bolting, often occurs when the child tries to get something they want or like, wants to escape overwhelming feelings or sensations, is transitioning, or is just exploring. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with ASD, often as the result of wandering. This usually happens at home, but can happen at school, programming, or on an outing.While this is a scary topic, there are ways to prepare for emergencies, prevent wandering, and improve water safety. This webpage provides information to help you keep children with ASD safe: mass.gov/AutismWaterSafety