Running Away

Elopement / wandering — one of the highest safety priorities.

Educational suggestions only — not individualized medical or behavioral advice. Every autistic person is different. Use as a starting point, and involve a trusted professional when things feel beyond what you can support alone.

Action panel

What can I do today?

Small, doable steps for right now, this week, and when to bring in a professional. Educational only — not individualized medical or behavioral advice.

Step 1

In the next 10 minutes

Pause and take three slow breaths together — regulate yourself first.
Reduce sensory load: lower lights, turn off background noise, offer quiet space.
Drop non-essential demands for the next few minutes. Safety and connection first.
Offer a preferred item or activity, or a familiar comfort routine.
Use fewer words. Try a visual, gesture, or written cue instead of talking through it.

Step 2

This week

Track what happens before, during, and after for 3–5 days (ABC notes).
Look for patterns in sleep, hunger, sensory input, and transitions.
Test one small environmental change (lighting, timing, warning before switches).
Introduce or review a visual schedule for the parts of day that are hardest.
Plan a 15-minute connection time daily, without demands, to fill the tank.

Step 3

Questions to ask a professional

BCBA or behavior specialist

What might this behavior be communicating, and what function does the data suggest?
What antecedent changes and replacement skills would you prioritize first?
How will we measure progress, and how often will we review the plan together?

Step 4

Helpful printables

Step 5

When to seek urgent help

Any injury to the person or others, or damage that puts safety at risk.
New or worsening self-injury, especially to head, eyes, or with objects.
Signs of dehydration, fainting, extreme lethargy, or a very high fever.
Sudden loss of skills, seizures, or a large change in alertness.
Suicidal statements, plans, or intent — or a mental health crisis.
You feel unsafe or unable to keep the person safe by yourself.

In the US, call or text 988 for mental health crisis, 911 for medical emergencies, or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Outside the US, use your local emergency number. This page is educational — it is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

Possible reasons

Moving toward something attractive (water, road, favorite place).
Moving away from something aversive (noise, demand, crowd).
Sensory-seeking: speed, wind, movement.
Impulse without full risk assessment in the moment.

Questions to consider

1Is there a consistent destination or direction?
2What was happening in the minutes before?
3Are there any warning signs (pacing, quiet, specific words)?
4Are exits secured and does everyone know the safety plan?

What to try first

Install door/window alarms and secondary latches — today.
Teach and rehearse the child's name, address, and a safe adult.
Consider a medical ID bracelet with parent/guardian phone.
Notify neighbors and local first responders (many depts have a registry).

Evidence-supported strategies

Written safety plan

One page. Who calls 911, who searches where, who checks water first. Shared with every caregiver.

Track the function

Log every incident: what preceded, where they went, what they got. Patterns emerge quickly.

Environmental modification

Fences, alarms, GPS tracker if appropriate. Reduce the opportunity while you teach safety.

Teach 'stop' and 'come back' with reinforcement

Short, positive, high-value practice — daily.

Printable resources

No dedicated printable yet — browse the downloads library.

Related behaviors

elopement

Related strategies

Videos

Videos open a YouTube search — we recommend previewing before sharing with your family.

When to seek professional help

Any elopement incident deserves a professional conversation — BCBA, pediatrician, school team.
Ask school and therapy providers for their elopement protocol in writing.
Contact local police non-emergency line to register the child if available.

When immediate medical attention is appropriate

Missing child — call emergency services immediately. Check bodies of water FIRST — drowning is the leading cause of death after elopement.
Any injury from an elopement incident — medical evaluation, always.

In the US: call or text 988 for mental health crisis. Call 911 for medical emergencies. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. Outside the US, use your local emergency number.

Other situations

Won't Sleep

Bedtime resistance, night waking, and long sleep-onset.

Won't Eat

Food refusal, extreme selectivity, or shrinking food list.

Aggression

Hitting, kicking, biting, or throwing directed at others.

Meltdowns

Nervous-system overload — not tantrums, not misbehavior.