Any Advice or tips on eloping young children on the autism spectrum?!?!

Today was a very traumatizing for me. I have 4 year old non- verbal child on the autism spectrum , and struggles with eloping struggles and behaviors. My child ran away from the playground right into the parking lot. We were literally playing together on the playground. And I was behind him and he was behind me , I sat down to take a a brief break thinking he was going to run up front of me into the playground for him to play independently for a briefly. But no he ran into parking lot. I look behind me and I’m like where the hell is my child I start to scream his name out loud and see him running to the playground . He could have got hit by a car or worse , I feel like complete shit and a shitty mother. My son is okay , Thank god my son is okay. Something bad could have happen. God could have punished me . Any advice on stopping or preventing elopement .

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Hi I’m a mother in the autism spectrum also my daughter is 3 years old non verbal. Now for the eloping is very difficult thing to stop mostly just take precautions as in if your gonna take a break to sit bring your child with you as well to sit down to prevent him from sprinting somewhere. Usually I have a wrist leash for my daughter that ties to wrist as well I know I got a lot of Karen’s comment about it but if they don’t have a child on the spectrum they won’t understand. But that’s one of the safest way to have your child by your side and avoid eloping and going into danger. My daughter has yet to elope but this should be Abel to help you out in the future. My daughter right now is at the stage where she can’t even go outside with out crying and screaming her head off I can’t go anywhere with her because it’s what’s she does even at doctor office all because I kept her inside the winter to avoid her getting sick now she never wanna go outside and only be in the house.

You’re not a shit mother I know it’s hard and tough and we got this.

@Midchail basically every time we go to the park I have to play on the playground with him he doesn’t really play that much with other kids . And today we was on the playground. I sat down quickly and briefly thinking he was going to go infront of me and go to the playground. No instead he ran straight to the parking lot SMFH my son could have got hit by a car God for bit or worse .

I appreciate you’re advice and I can care less for the Karen comments or looks I have a leash I need to use it again and maybe even buy another one for him

I'm so sorry that happened to you! I'm glad he's ok! I'm a psychologist and BCBA who specializes in ASD. I would recommend looking into ABA therapy through your insurance to help address the elopement and any other concerns! That can be done either part or full time. A BCBA would be able to help create an individualized plan for your child and his needs! I would also recommend a GPS tracking device (e.g. anglesense) and / or a wristlet that has identifying information on it (his name, your phone number, etc).

@Catherine

Yes I’m doing my research now on angel sense . I have have to get in-home ABA for him. He does receive ABA at school.

Yes always have on I have this blue wrist one that I can lock it and unlock it with my wrist one. I’m always here if anything we can always help each other out. We autism mama have to stick together through this.

I have a blue one that I feel is minorly he grew out of a little bit can still use it

That's great!!! I forgot to mention, you can also apply through the department of motor vehicles for a disability placard for parking, especially based on the elopement! You'd just have whomever diagnosed him fill out the required information on the disability. Best of luck!!!! ❤️

That is something that usually takes time to work on, sometimes you both just need to relax and enjoy some fresh air, on those days I would take him to a gated park. It took me a while to find parks that are safe for my boy but once you do they will be a safe space for the both of you

My 4 yr son is a big time eloper we have to use a stroller anywhere we go because he simply doesn’t have a concept of staying by me. Im right on top of him whenever we’re at the park. He does in home aba they’re about to try and start working on it with him. They’re going to use a gesture with verbal command and try to fade the gesture in to just a verbal command. It’s hard because my son doesn’t seem to have any receptive language yet. They’ve been taking him for short walks around the block when they are double staffed so one person holding each hand and when he tries to drop and elope they just keep him walking. He hasn’t gotten frustrated with it at all but he still tries to dip off like 12 times each walk 😭🤣 idk I’ve been really impressed with our in home aba definitely worth seeking out a good company to come work with him.

I tried a wrist leash situation but he will just drop and get frustrated knowing he’s restrained 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yeah ima need to get my daughter a better aba therapist because these ain’t it for her they switch so much with her different one that when a new one comes she don’t even care anymore and walks right away from them n pushes them away