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www.AngelSense.com Angel Sense Autism Tracker
Drowning is among the leading causes of death of individuals with autism. Please click here for a list of YMCA locations that offer special needs swimming lessons, and be sure that your child’s last lesson is with clothes and shoes on.
In 2008, Danish researchers found that the mortality risk among the autism population is twice as high as the general population
In 2001, a California research team found elevated deaths in autism and attributed it to several causes, including seizures and accidents such as suffocation and drowning
Roughly half, or 48%, of children with an ASD attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings
In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with an ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement.
More than one third of ASD children who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number. Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury
32% of parents reported a “close call” with a possible drowning
Wandering was ranked among the most stressful ASD behaviors by 58% of parents of elopers
62% of families of children who elope were prevented from attending/enjoying activities outside the home due to fear of wandering
40% of parents had suffered sleep disruption due to fear of elopement
Children with ASD are eight times more likely to elope between the ages of 7 and 10 than their typically-developing siblings
Half of families with elopers report they had never received advice or guidance about elopement from a professional
Only 19% had received such support from a psychologist or mental health professional
Only 14% had received guidance from their pediatrician or another physician
Source: Interactive Autism Network Research Report: Elopement and Wandering (2011)
Source: National Autism Association, Lethal Outcomes in ASD Wandering (2012)