Wandering and Elopement Community Project Brittany Hunt OTD, OTR/L
Objectives ❏ The presentation aims to increase awareness of wandering/elopement risks and preventative safety measures. ❏ Objectives: ❏ Identify how to obtain the “Caregiver” and “Meet the Police” booklets Identify 3 strategies or facts to consider when preventing or searching for ❏ an individual with autism that has wandered or eloped.
All Individuals with exceptionalities This presentation frequently refers to individuals with autism; however, the information is pertinent to many of our individuals with special needs. Associations supporting Autism have thorough research on wandering The organizations have developed forms, supports, and programs that can easily be ❏ applied to individuals that may wander or elope (examples; undiagnosed, intellectually impaired, and more). Verbal Permission to utilize and share information for nonprofit educational purposes has been granted by the ❏ National Autism Association via phone in May of 2018
Wandering ❏ Wandering ❏ Leaving a safe area Without permission of when under the care of a responsible person ❏ ❏ Examples include wandering from school, home, and from caretakers ❏ More likely to occur in children with autism versus asperger Wandering from the home increases from April through August (NAA, 2017a) ❏ Wandering from school increases in the fall and winter months ❏ (NAA, 2017a) (NAA Awaare, 2018; NAA, 2017)
Elopement ❏ Elopement ❏ Bolting, running, or fleeing from a safe area ❏ (I want, I need, I don’t want) ❏ More likely a sensory processing flight reaction ❏ Elopement versus wandering is more likely to occur in individuals with Asperger (High functioning autism) (NAA Awaare, 2018; NAA, 2017)
The Data Involving a child with autism... 49% engage in wandering behaviors ❏ 35% attempt to wander at least once per week ❏ ❏ ⅓ are not able to communicate their name, address, or phone number ❏ 29% of wandering occurs from the classroom or school ❏ 42% of wandering cases involving a child 9 years or younger have been lethal ❏ ❏ Accidental drowning is the primarily cause of death ( 90%) of those that wander (NAA Awaare, 2018; NAA, 2017)
Data (NAA, 2017)
Who can relate? Personal experiences; Parents have expressing difficulties with... Going to the grocery store ❏ ❏ “Walking” back from the bus Getting into the car ❏ Going outside in the yard, or attending social events ❏
Why is this important? ❏ Knowledge is Power! ❏ Be aware you are not alone. ❏ Others share similar yet unique experiences ❏ Others share similar risks and fears ❏ Others can share similar successful strategies
Strategies ❏ Be Ready with BeRedy NAA ❏ BeRedy Caregiver Booklet ❏ Big Red Tool Kits ❏ Meet the Police Booklet ❏ BeRedy Teacher Booklet ❏ BeRedy First Responders Booklet (NAA, 2017; NAA, 2018)
BeRedy Caregiver Booklet ❏ Download Caregiver Booklet http://nationalautismassociation.org/store/#!/NAAs-Be-REDy-Booklet-for-Caregivers/p/57859415/category=2416355 ❏ ❏ This is a prepared emergency search plan that is in place should an individual with autism wander or elope. ❏ Forms guide, helpers. and first responders into efficient search action. (NAA, 2017)
Big Red Caregiver Safety - Box ❏ Door alarms, window cling, shoe tags, temporary tattoos, seat belt cover ❏ http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/ ❏ Free to primary caretakers ❏ Who apply during grant period ❏ Simple application Usually opens in May is depleted by mid June ❏ (NAA, 2017)
Personal Emergency Profile Sheet http://nationalautismassociation.org/personal-emergency-profile-sheet/ ❏ Car Place one in the car glove box ❏ Place one within the car seat alert strap ❏ Bookbag ❏ Purse ❏ Provide a copy to local Police/Emergency room ❏ (NAA, 2017)
Meet the Police http://nationalautismassociation.org/meet-the-police/ ❏ Free Download ❏ Consider giving consent to the school for this to be shared with the police ❏ department Many police departments can add an alert or the emergency information to the house ❏ address and phone number in case an emergency should arises. (NAA, 2017)
Awaare: Website with excellent links and resources http://awaare.nationalautismassociation.org/for-physicians-and-therapists/ Awaare.NAA * site has link for Big Red kits ❏ “More than one third of children with autism who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number ” ❏ OT/ST and teachers may target IEP goals to assist with learning primary information of name, address and phone numbers. Compensatory strategies; include various safety precautions such as the ID bracelets, shoe IDs, Meet the Police forms ❏ ❏ Teach a carrier phrase to assist with habitual “ My name is….. “ (versus difficult W questions that many individuals with autism have difficulties with; ex. What is your name?) ❏ ❏ Half of families report they have never received advice or guidance about elopement from a professional This is very concerning to us at DCSS and part of why we are providing this informational opportunity ❏ (Awaare, 2018)
Big Red Teacher Booklet NAA Big Red Teacher Toolkit ❏ The above link typed out is: ❏ http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/naas-big-red-safety-teacher-to olkit-now-available/ ❏ 1 Per school applied for by administration/teacher/staff directly involved Brief application ❏ (NAA, 2017)
Community Initiative ❏ The Dawson County School System is growing as our community grows. The Knights of Columbus have graciously offered assistance for special projects in our schools ❏ numerous times and appears to be continuing this support to our school community. If you have a child in our school that wanders/elopes and you feel a kit would help keep an at risk child safe. ❏ Please consider providing your contact information (child’s name and age) on the list. Kits may become available. ❏ If you would like help filling out any safety plans/forms, I would be happy to assist in person or via phone. ❏ I hope to be able to share the “Meet the Police” forms or alerts to our expanding Police Department if you the parent/guardian sign a release (The release form is currently in development for permission).
Contact Information Brittany Hunt OTD, OTR/L ❏ Riverview Elementary School, ❏ Phone: 706-216-5812 Occupational Therapy x1955 ❏ Fax: 706-216-0182 : Attention Brittany Hunt OT ❏ bhunt@dawson.k12.ga.us ❏
Aims and objectives ❏ The presentation aims to increase awareness of wandering/elopement risks and preventative safety measures. ❏ Objectives: Obtain the “Be REDy Booklet; Caregiver” and “Meet the Police” booklets at the NAA Websites: ❏ http://nationalautismassociation.org/ or from Brittany Hunt, Occupational Therapy Identify 3 strategies or facts to consider when preventing or searching: Use the Big Red Kit safety ❏ features (door alarms, ID, tech), Emergency plan (angels), swimming lessons, Call 911, **Search water area’s first for individual that have wandered or eloped. (NAA Awaare, 2018; NAA 2017)
References National Autism Association (NAA).(2017). Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/ NAA.(2017). Big red safety caregiver booklet. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/store/#!/NAAs-Be-REDy-Booklet-for-Caregivers/p/57859415/category=2416355 NAA.(2017). Big red safety caregiver box. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/ NAA.(2017). Meet the police booklet. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/meet-the-police/ NAA.(2017). Big red teacher booklet. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/naas-big-red-safety-teacher-toolkit-now-available/ NAA.(2018). Awaare Collaboration. Retrieved from http://awaare.nationalautismassociation.org/
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