wandered off today

[AutMom]

My son wandered off today. The (new) service provider was waiting for him, out of sight of the bathroom, and was unaware that he had left the building. :eek: Luckily, someone ended up bringing him back!

[tpigford]

Wandering off is one of the scariest things that has happened to us. Fortunately it has only happened a couple of times, and it was when Jacob was much younger. We've tried to impress upon everyone that helps with him that it can happen quickly.

[AutMom]

[QUOTE=tpigford]Wandering off is one of the scariest things that has happened to us. Fortunately it has only happened a couple of times, and it was when Jacob was much younger. We've tried to impress upon everyone that helps with him that it can happen quickly.[/QUOTE]
We will be addressing this serious issue. What I found out is that upon leaving the bathroom and not seeing his provider, he became disoriented and wandered off. We had always stressed the supervision piece, but somewhere the ball was dropped. We need to do everything we can to ensure this does not happen again.

I also told my son if this ever happens to just stay where you are. He thought that would work.:)

[tpigford]

The first time our son left the house and went down the street scared us so bad that I got a medic alert bracelet for him and he wore it for several years. However, eventually he outgrew it and I didn't replace it. Your incident reminds me that it could happen and it might be a good idea to get a bracelet for him again. He carries no ID as he will not carry a wallet, etc. and being nonverbal makes it very difficult for a 'stranger' to know what to do. Good reminder.

[AutMom]

[font=Comic Sans MS]The unaware service provider quit. [/font]
[font=Comic Sans MS]Good thing we had 2 providers.:) [/font]

[rCARBEE]

Mikey was once left unattended at the playground and went far from the group. A wooden beam on the playground (that goes around the perimeter) caught his attention and he decided to follow it. The problem is that there is no fence around the playground and is right next to the road. I saw some boys kick a soccer ball across the road and almost run out in front of the cars to go get it. :eek:

[AutMom]

So what happened rCARBEE? Did someone notice him wandering off?

[Mommy_to_Nathan]

OH gosh this is the reason I do not wanna leave Nathan alone at his summer program (this will be his first time attending school) I am going to sit in the parents room, and watch him on the computer/monator's, its only 9-11:30, thats not too long right? LOL

HI AUTMOM,
HI rCARBEE :)

[rCARBEE]

Hey Mom to Nathan! I like your Avatar!

Well, I thought every one knew this story. This (playground incident) happened during IEP time. One day I had some extra time so I thought I would go observe Mikey at school. I went into the teacher to tell her what I was doing. The kids were out on the playground with a couple of teachers (one is an aide). It was kite day. I didn't want Mikey to see me so I stayed sort of out of site. The teachers didn't acknowledge me so I thought they hadn't seen me. Mikey started getting bored with the activity. He didn't know what to do with a kite. He decided that he would walk around the perimeter of the playground on a wooden beam following it. This was far away from the group. The teachers didn't even act like they knew he was gone because they were jabbering away. He got way over by the side of the street. I was trying to see if they noticed. I was about to sprint if he didn't stay on the wooden beam. I brought it up to the teacher immediately upon leaving for the day with the child and she apologized for that happening. She noted my concerns. I also brought it up at the IEP and was in tears when I said that "if anything ever happened to him due to neglegence I would prosecute to the fullest extent". They said that in the fall they are getting a fence around the playground. I will definately pitch a fit if that doesn't happen. I talked about teaching him social stories about danger. He bolts a lot on me. They said a lot of kids don't understand about danger at that age. They always come up with justifications which PO's me off. I am going to see if I can get him an aid for the playground if they don't get the fence.

I have noticed one other time a kid running off and they don't notice.

It worries me to death. I go around playground time and just sit in the parking lot to watch to make sure he is okay.

[AutMom]

Hi Mommy to Nathan and rCARBEE...[size=3][color=blue]This is crazy![/color][/size]

It only takes one time and a few seconds...:eek: When my son first started preschool, we insisted he have a 1:1 for safety reasons. Sounds like you both have reason for at least 1:1 playground supervision. I work at a school, and there are students who have an adult out at recess just to watch them. It can be done. You should not have to sit in the parking lot watching your kid.

[Mommy_to_Nathan]

(speaking of sneaking away...I remembered this story)

I was riding down the road one time... (LOL THIS IS FUNNY, BUT I SHOULD NOT LAUGH)....and this OLD OLD man was dressed in a pair of boxers, and u could tell he had a diaper on, he had on black socks, and slippers, and a white tank top. (got the visual? - K ) anyway's I watched him for the longest time, he was walking really fast, almost like a trot. I knew sompthing wasn't right, He then turned to go up on the highway...and I started to get REALLY worried then, I picked up my cell phone to call the police (didn't want him to get hit or sompthing) and then this car pull's up and 2 nursing aid's get out and literally DRAGGGGED and PULLLED him into the car, he fought them as much as he could. He didn't want to go back, they had to promise him he could have his 'JC PENNY'S', magazine back, if he stopped cutting out pic's of the ladies in bra's and panties, and putting them on his wall's lol!

[AutMom]

Actually it strikes me as a sad story. :(

You'd think they'd just give him back the catalog and not even mention the pics on the walls if it makes him happy and gets him to come back.:confused: Of course we don't know the whole story...so who knows.

[Mommy_to_Nathan]

Yeah it was sad, I actually do voulenteer work at a nursing home in my area :) I take an elderly man 1 time a month to get some grocerys and to get a hair cut. He call's me once a week, and we set up "chat times" where I go and just sit and talk with him. I also pushed his wheelchair in the 4th of July parade last year. I adore the elderly. I live by the motto "do nice things to others cause one day I will be old, and lonley and I hope someone is nice enough to care like I do", (or maybe pick me up a 6 pack of beer so I can get drunk, and flirt with all the cute dr.'s ;) )
Hey what else have I got to do? :D

[rCARBEE]

The more I learn about you Angie the more I like you. I feel the same about the elderly.

AutMom~ I really like that advice you gave about the Gentle Teaching.

[AutMom]

[QUOTE=rCARBEE]
[color=purple]AutMom~ I really like that advice you gave about the Gentle Teaching[/color].[/QUOTE]rCARBEE, Are you referring to the websites I posted or some other advice?:confused:

[Maresa]

This is something that I have had to deal with too. My 6 year old Autistic daughter has wandered out of our neighborhood on several occasions, it all started when she was 2. When she was 2 we were all sleeping when my husband woke up to what he thought was a baby crying in the front yard. He went to investigate and there was Caitlin just standing there crying. We figured she must of sleep walked or had one of her seizures and not realized where she was. Another time in the past year she dissapeared while I was making supper. She was here one minute and literally gone the next, she decided to take a walk a half mile down our road to pick me some flowers out of a neighbors yard! Luckily a neigbor heard me yelling for her and brought her to me.

A few months ago after school Caitlin decided to play on a swingset in someones yard a few streets away. She never mentioned or asked me if she could go outside. I was frantic with worry and drove around praying to God to please help me find my baby. Luckily our chihuahua Jack follows Caity everywhere she goes (kind of guards her) and I located him, and she was nearby.

A day later she wandered yet again, Grandpa and her Daddy were supposed to be watching her, however they both fell asleep in their chairs. I come home and find Caity's bike by the road (Not a good sign) and my stomach dropped. Rushing in the house I call her name...no answer! I promptly woke both men up and enlisted help from my other 2 daughters, we found her in the woods. Again, our chihuahua was right next to her watcing her.

Anyway, I do worry. I had a talk with her and she has not done this since. But....you never know! These kids can do some odd things when you least expect it, and I have learned from experience to expect anything! I think the id bracelet sounds like an excellent idea! I was wondering why someone does not invent a type of watch/bracelet almost like they would use for house arrest that way when they went beyond a certain perimiter it would sound an alarm. Do they make such a thing?

Maresa

[AutMom]

[QUOTE=Maresa]I was wondering why someone does not invent a type of watch/bracelet almost like they would use for house arrest that way when they went beyond a certain perimiter it would sound an alarm. Do they make such a thing?

Maresa[/QUOTE]I've heard of Global Positioning Bracelets (expensive), and Medic Alert Bracelets and I think I have heard of one that beeps if a person gets too far away from the control device, but I don't know much more about it.
Found this site, [size=3]Electronic Security Bracelet[/size]:
http://www.yenra.com/electronic-security-bracelet/

[AutMom]

"safe, easy-to-use system that enables parents and guardians to monitor and locate their children or dependents when they're at a neighborhood park, theme park, mall, airport or even when they're just playing in the backyard."

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/products.php?id=34&PHPSESSID=32c00cfe33f43f4083389ad31cb462c1

[Maresa]

Thanks for the link, I am going to look into this. Sounds like a great idea! :)

Maresa

[littleboss1960]

I have a 5 yr old son with autism.We were at school for testing to see how bad he has it so they know what class to put him in,I told them to keep good eye on him so he dont excape room.The woman there let him go into another office and he was out the othr door before she could get out of her chair.He was caught outside of door..But it showed me they were not taking me seriously about watching him.They will now because I told them they will be held personally responsible for him while in their care and I will push it to limit to assure my child safety.I will be at his school when he starts next year to make sure his teacher,provider gets message very well what I exspect.They will know I am serious of them watching him very closely.I will not tollerate any excuses for him being harmed or left un attended by them.They will understand I will file charges against them and school.It may seem harsh to say this but I want to make sure he is watched and I can not be at school everyday to make sure it happens.I have 2 boys with autism,The youngest may be in a pre-pre age school there to at 3 years old.So there will be both of them the school will be responsible for.With us living in a small town place it should not be as hard to watch my boys.The classes arent that big. :o

[REECENME]

[QUOTE=littleboss1960]I have a 5 yr old son with autism.We were at school for testing to see how bad he has it so they know what class to put him in,I told them to keep good eye on him so he dont excape room.The woman there let him go into another office and he was out the othr door before she could get out of her chair.He was caught outside of door..But it showed me they were not taking me seriously about watching him.They will now because I told them they will be held personally responsible for him while in their care and I will push it to limit to assure my child safety.I will be at his school when he starts next year to make sure his teacher,provider gets message very well what I exspect.They will know I am serious of them watching him very closely.I will not tollerate any excuses for him being harmed or left un attended by them.They will understand I will file charges against them and school.It may seem harsh to say this but I want to make sure he is watched and I can not be at school everyday to make sure it happens.I have 2 boys with autism,The youngest may be in a pre-pre age school there to at 3 years old.So there will be both of them the school will be responsible for.With us living in a small town place it should not be as hard to watch my boys.The classes arent that big. :o[/QUOTE]

[REECENME]

[I]No consilation, I know, but been there 1000's of times faster than a speedin rocket. My boy is now 7 and instead of winning the olympics he has calmed down and is beginning to appritiate simple commands like:- stop, wait, good boy, thankyou for listening. Maybe it's hard to imagine now, I wouldn't have believed it, but it did come and in the meantime, he's a special liitle boy, he's yours and everyone, no matter how far stuck up their own arses they are, they have a duty to help you keep him safe, just until he learns it for himself. BE STRONG AND HE'LL BE TOO