Safety On The Spectrum
ASGA Receives Kevin and Avonte Grant
Kevin Willis and Avonte Oquendo were two young men with Autism who wandered from supervised settings and tragically drowned. The Kevin and Avonte Law was proposed to Congress in 2014 and was passed in 2018. The goals of the law are to create safer communities for those with Autism, Alzheimer’s, forms of dementia, and other developmental disabilities by awarding grants to local organizations.
The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is pleased to have been awarded Bureau of Justice Assistance funding “to reduce the number of deaths and injuries of individuals with forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or developmental disabilities, such as Autism, who, due to their condition, wander from safe environments.” This program provides funding to implement programs to prevent wandering, increase vulnerable individuals’ safety, and facilitate rescues.
Elopement/Wandering and Water Safety
Wandering is a common issue that many individuals and families in the Autism community face. Because of the potentially dangerous outcomes, wandering is a critical safety concern. It can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience for everyone. Those who wander are at an increased risk of accidents, injuries, or drowning. Approximately 91% of deaths in children with Autism under 14 are caused by accidental drownings after wandering.
Why do individuals with Autism wander? Is there anything that can be done to prevent wandering-related tragedies?
What Is Wandering?
Stress and anxiety about wandering have the potential to impact daily life for individuals with Autism and their families. Constant vigilance, worry or fear can be emotionally exhausting. Ongoing fear and worry about safety can impact a family’s ability or desire to engage in community activities or outings, contributing to social isolation.
At the Autism Society, we work to create a world where everyone in the Autism community is empowered and connected to the resources they need to live fully, which means living safely. Together, we can work towards building stronger communities where everyone in the Autism community lives fully and safely.
The CDC defines wandering (sometimes referred to as elopement or bolting) as a person leaving a safe area or a responsible caregiver. Wandering can occur under any supervision and in people of all age groups. People can wander from various places, like their homes, school settings, work settings, or during community outings, events, or activities. People with Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Alzheimer’s/Dementia are at an increased risk of injury or death to wandering.
Elopement/Wandering Statistics
The leading cause of death of individuals with Autism who wander is drowning. There is a strong association between Autism, wandering, and drowning as individuals who wander from a supervised location are often found in or near water.
- CDC states more than half of children with ASD wander
- While there are no statistics available for adults who wander, we know that if children with Autism wander, they also typically wander in adulthood
- 71% of accidental deaths associated with wandering are drownings
- 91% of children with Autism deaths are due to tragically drowning
- Drowning is also one of the leading causes of deaths in adults with Autism
Safety Toolkits
ASGA developed resources to support individuals with Autism and the families, Police Officers, and school systems.
This website is funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).
The safety resources and toolkits for Safety on the Spectrum were funded in part or in whole through a grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation. FirstEnergy does not operate, control, is responsible for, or necessarily endorses, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).
