Nearly half of children with autism will wander, or elope, from safe environments. And more than one-third of children who wander are considered nonverbal. Children with autism go missing under a variety of circumstances. They may seek out small or enclosed spaces. They may wander toward places of special interest to them. Or they may try to escape overwhelming stimuli such as sights, sounds, surroundings or activities of others.
We recommend families of children with autism talk to those closest to them about their child. This could be neighbors, teachers, friends, extended family or anyone who might spend time with or near the child. These are the people who will notice your child is missing, they should immediately call local law enforcement. But they should also begin searching since time is of the essence. Many times it is the person last with the child who can help the most.
Get additional Autism Wandering Tips here.