Connecting for Kids - Awareness: Community Resources for Wandering

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Awareness: Community Resources for Wandering

Community Resources

Children with disabilities (including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Down syndrome, ADHD and anxiety) wander for a number of reasons, including seeking out a special place or item, escaping from undesirable situations or because they have become disoriented or lost (read more).

Children of even the most watchful parents can slip away quickly when they are motivated wanderers. According to a study by Pediatrics Magazine, parents and caregivers of wanderers regularly sacrifice family outings, meals and even sleep to keep their children safe, yet 49% of study participants had a child who had wandered at least once in the past four years.

Even with constant vigilance, motivated wanderers can find a way to get out. When that happens, an educated community is that child's best chance of returning home safely.

You can improve a child's chances of returning home safely if you remember three steps:

STOP

Stop and ask the child if he or she needs help.

SEEK

Seek assistance from local law enforcement.

STAY

Stay with the child until
police arrive.

NOTE: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also offers a Stop, Seek, Stay video, available for sharing through YouTube.

Additional Resources

The following resources are also available to first responders:

Resource	Offered By	Use
Wandering Community Education Poster	Connecting for Kids	Provides information on why individuals with special needs wander, how wandering can be dangerous and what the community can do to help.
Big Red Safety Toolkit	National Autism Association/AWAARE	Includes checklists and other information to help first responders search for missing children with ASD. Portions of this kit are also applicable to different disabilities, including the first responder checklist, first responder tips and first responder notification form.
Addendum	National Center for Missing and Exploited Children	Includes protocols for gathering information, conducting a search and reuniting a missing person with disabilities with his or her caregiver.
First Responder Brochure	National Autism Association/AWAARE	Provides information on behaviors commonly seen in individuals with ASD and tips for interacting.

Note: While wandering behaviors occur across numerous diagnoses, the majority of information published to date focuses on autism-related wandering. Despite the fact that many of the resources here are from autism organizations, the principles can be applied to a variety of different diagnoses.

Website supported by a grant from Parker.

Call, text or email:

Phone: 1-440-570-5908
Email: info@connectingforkids.org

Post Office Box:

30628 Detroit Rd. #252
Westlake, Ohio 44145