Autism & Wandering
Overview
According to data published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly half of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who go missing or elope from their environment are often at greater risk of injury, death or exploitation while missing.
Elopement is a specific high-risk response to a need experienced by someone with ASD. Individuals may wander or bolt from a safe location, caregiver or guardian and they may seek either stimulation or regulation. Children on the autism spectrum may seek out small or enclosed spaces, head toward water or places of special interest to them or they may try to escape overwhelming stimuli such as sights, sounds, surroundings or activities of others.
Elopement is associated with an extreme risk of drowning, especially when someone has substantial needs related to ASD or is nonspeaking.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® has free resources and training to help support caregivers, first responders and search teams to help mitigate missing incidents for children on the autism spectrum.
Risk Factors
Children on the autism spectrum may exhibit behavioral characteristics that threaten their safety, such as:
- Elopement may occur in any environment, at any time of day, or from the care of any person.
- High stress, highly social, or transitional events are often triggers for elopement, which may be easier due to decreased layers of safety, like secured doors or clear sight due to crowds.
- Children who elope are at extreme risk of drowning.
- Missing persons with ASD may seek out roadways, highways, trains, fire trucks, or traffic signals or another area that is a “special interest” or focus.
- Some individuals are nonspeaking or have limited speech, so they may not respond to searchers when their name is called.
- Children may hide from rescuers, loud noises or seek out small spaces. Rescued children may bolt or attempt to escape again when located.
- There is a heightened risk for exploitation because of their disability.
NCMEC collects information concerning children and missing young adults who elope and are recovered deceased. Most often deaths are due to drowning, but deaths have also occurred from injury, vehicles, exposure or animal encounters. Drowning most often occurs within a few hundred feet to a half mile of the missing location and within a few minutes.
- In 2025, at least 97 children and young adults were recovered deceased and 88% drowned.
- 90% of those who drowned were aged 10 or younger.
- 67% of drownings occurred in natural or naturally appearing water.
What NCMEC is Doing About it
NCMEC compiles incidents of missing children on the autism spectrum who are reported to the Center. This data informs our programming and helps us increase public awareness about the endangerments for these children. Read or Download NCMEC’s latest report.
Featured Webinar
Search Water First: Autism & Drowning
Additional Webinars
The Beacon March: Water Safety & Autism
Resources for Caregivers of Children on the Autism Spectrum
How Local Law Enforcement Organization Can Build an Autism Awareness & Outreach Program
Click here if you would like to request training around this issue for your community or law enforcement organization.
NCMEC has resources to assist law enforcement, rescue services, and other community members in hosting Sensory Friendly Events to foster positive relationships and understanding in order to better support children on the autism spectrum. Additionally, NCMEC provides guidance on implementing sound practices when handling missing child cases involving children on the autism spectrum.
Promising Practices to Address Wandering of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities or Dementia
NCMEC has resources that can help victims and families feel less alone and get the mental health and peer support that’s often needed when a child is missing.
Recommended Programs
For Law Enforcement & First Responders
Autism/ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach Unit
Montgomery County, Maryland Police
This model community outreach program began in 2005, partly in response to the growing number of police calls for service involving missing residents who had autism/IDD, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. The program has continued to develop and today provides a “total approach” to issues that these residents and police face through education, outreach, follow-up, empowerment, and response.
Crisis Intervention Teams
Addison, Illinois Police Department
In 2017, the Addison Police Department created its Crisis Intervention Team where select officers receive training and education on ways to ensure informed, positive, and safe interactions between law enforcement and children on the autism spectrum and other communities.
Safe Return Program
San Bernardino, California
The Safe Return Program is a confidential public safety program designed to assist law enforcement agencies during contacts with members of the community who have disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, or other developmental or intellectual disabilities. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department allows officers to match registered data with lost individuals to reconnect them with their loved ones.
For Caregivers and Community Stakeholders
Key Information for 911
Time is of the essence in all missing child cases. This model script provides guidance for families and caregivers on how to effectively communicate with emergency operators in the event of an emergency involving their child. This is a proactive measure to help be prepared in the event your child goes missing.
Key Information for Neighbors
Help neighbors better understand how to keep your child on the autism spectrum safe with this sample letter.
National Autism Association
The NAA hosts useful information and downloadable content for families such as "Meet the Police"- a tool to help enhance the quality of interactions between individuals on the autism spectrum and members of law enforcement. Similarly, the "Big Red Safety Box" is a toolkit donated to families as a way to educate, raise awareness, and provide simple tools that may assist them in preventing or responding to wandering-related emergencies.
Ring
Ring’s mission is to help make neighborhoods safer. NCMEC missing child posters are featured directly on the Neighbors App by Ring to reach millions of engaged community members who can help bring more children home.
Click here to read about how Ring’s Neighbors App can help when children on the autism spectrum go missing.
Safety Products
Products like "Alert Me" bands and ID cards can help keep your child safer by providing first responders and others with awareness that your child is on the autism spectrum.
Sports Safety & Inclusive Programs
The Y and The American Red Cross provide swim lessons to children and families. This is essential for families to consider in order to ensure water safety and prevent drowning, particularly for families with children on the autism spectrum.
Growth Through Opportunity (GTO) Cadets is a 16-week training program pairing individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) with first responders. GTO Cadets with IDD such as autism spectrum disorder learn job and life skills from local law enforcement agencies and in turn first responders gain a better understanding on how to enhance positive encounters with these children and mitigate negative outcomes.
