Safety First! 8 Ways to Keep Children on the Autism Spectrum Safe

Autism can impact the safety of both autistic children and the adults caring for them. Learning to be proactive in keeping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) safe is no small feat. Here’s how I know…

My grandson was a runner—and a fast one at that! When younger, he would impulsively take off, and because he lacked a sense of danger, he often darted toward the street or some other place where it is not safe to run. He not only ran, but he ran with a mission! There was always something he was drawn to and he was going to get there no matter what!

In one such incident, he ran out of the front yard directly toward the street and in front of an oncoming car. The driver was shaken up and mad, and I was stunned. I just hadn’t seen that one coming. One moment we were sitting together on the front porch, and the next he was gone.

Another incident happened a while later. We used to get our haircuts at the same hairdresser, who was always very accommodating of my grandson’s sensory and safety needs. She would lock her shop door that led to the busy parking area out front and would ask one of her employees to make sure he was playing or watching TV while it was my turn in the chair. 

One day, however, she forgot to lock the door after a customer, and he made a run for it. Before we knew it, he was out the door and running into the grocery store next door. Thankfully, we were able to catch up with him before anything untoward happened. 

Besides bolting, as is the case with many children on the spectrum, my grandson was also drawn to water. The sparkling of water in the sunlight, and getting in the water, which can feel like a big comforting hug, was too much for him to resist. So whenever we passed or were close to any body of water, he’d try to make a run for it. He didn’t know how to swim yet, so I had to be hyper-vigilant when we were out and in the vicinity of ponds, pools, or lakes.

At one point, the running instances were so frequent that I researched safety leashes, and I bought one that looked like a good temporary solution. One end was attached with Velcro around my wrist, and the other end clipped to one of his belt loops. My grandson loved it, as it was long enough for him to walk independently while we were out for errands or taking walks without him having to hold my hand.  

Did I get some stares? Sure! But keeping my grandson safe was my priority and at that time that leash was needed to keep him safe as he was often too fast for me to catch up with when he pulled from my grip and got away from me. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 49% of autistic children engage in elopement behavior, with a substantial number at risk for bodily harm. With summer vacation at our doorstep, warmer weather, and more hours at home and outside, here are some things you can do to help keep your children safe:

You can download and use this Personal Information Record from Stages.

2. Identification Cards. Children prone to wandering should always have some form of ID on them. I tried using an ID bracelet, but because of sensory issues, my grandson did not tolerate it well and constantly tried to take it off. I replaced it with an ID card that I sewed into his jacket, but as it got warmer he’d take his jacket off too. I finally settled on a shoe ID tag that was attached to one of his shoelaces with his name and contact number.  I taught him to point to it in case he was ever lost and was asked for his name.

You can download and use this Identification Card from Stages.

Keeping our autistic children safe from danger takes a lot of work and constant vigilance. Being prepared and preparing for any eventuality may save lives and is worth any effort it takes. 

What measures have you taken to keep your autistic child or student safe? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section.