When Kids With Special Needs Wander (Elope) {a guest post by Staci Conrad}

Last week I wrote about conducting a stakeout outside my daughter's school because I was terrified of her bolting during recces. If you didn't get to read that post, please do so, I did my best attempt at being funny in light of a real concern we have for our little eloper.

My friend Staci responded by sending me some links for me to look at in case some of those worked for us. I was so impressed with all the information she had, I asked her to write a blog post, and she did!

So let;s welcome Staci and the advice and resources she has for any parent that has a kid with special needs that wanders (or a typical kid that struggles with this too!)

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Wandering…eloping…these words strike fear in the core of many special needs parents.  I have tried to find some stats to share with you, but it seems that no one collects this data!? Most sites just say that “TOO MANY” children with disabilities wander off each year and many of them aren’t found in time.

Why do kids wander?  Some get distracted and some just NEED to explore.  Many are impulsive and have no understanding of consequences.  That is the case for my precious wanderer.  

The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) has added a code for wandering that was effective October 1, 2011.  It is designed to promote better data collection and understanding of wandering, and to prompt important discussions about safety among healthcare providers, caregivers, and the person with a disability to the fullest extent possible.  If your child is a wanderer, please talk to your provider and have this code added to your child’s official diagnoses. 

There are several safety devices available to help keep track of your loved one.  Even though you watch them like a hawk, they are so sneaky!  Everyone has to blink sometimes and that’s all it takes, especially at crowded events. 

Mine likes to take off at night time.  I have an alarm on her bedroom door and window.  I also have STOP signs on each door that leads outside.  I am going to add another lock to the back door, as she recently got out at 4AM.  There are lots of printable resources at: http://nationalautismassociation.org/docs/BigRedSafetyToolkit.pdf. 

For those interested in what technology has to offer, I have compiled the following list of resources that vary considerably in price.  Many of these are still not financially feasible for most special needs families. Although it might be possible to get state waivers or family support funding to help alleviate the cost.  (I could not reach our case worker to confirm or deny.)  These are only a sample of what is out there!  Be sure to look around to see what might fit your family the best.  

Adiant Solutions
Adiant Solutions is revolutionizing the GPS industry by providing solutions that transform lives. You are in control… you decide how to better manage "what matters most". Whether you are looking for tracking devices that locate a wanderer with dementia, a child with autism who is eloping, a low-level criminal, your fleet or cargo, or even a teen driver, we have the answer with our easy-to-use, customizable technology. Adiant's products ensure that people and property are where they belong…..and when. The devices are easy to use and can be managed from any computer or smart phone with Adiant's easy-to-use LocationNow Software.
www.adiant-solutions.com

Care Trak
The Original Law Enforcement Rescue Program that electronically tracks people with Alzheimer's who wander and special needs kids. Sheriffs, Police, Fire Departments, SAR Teams, etc. use Care Trak to quickly locate at risk individuals.
www.caretrak.com

EmFinders
The Emergency Locator Device "EmSeeQ" helps rapidly locate and recover your loved ones via the 9-1-1 cellular network.
www.emfinders.com

EZ100 Personal Emergency Notifier and GPS Tracker
The EZ-100 from EYEZ gives families of wandering special needs children added peace of mind and the confidence to engage in activities and adventures with the whole family.
www-eye-zon.com

LifePROTEKT
LifePROTEKT is dedicated to providing care givers, individuals and organizations with the most superior, innovative personal location based GPS technologies available while providing a network of support for those who care for special needs individuals. We want to give back to those communities who rely on our technology to assist them in safeguarding their loved ones.
www.lifeprotekt.com

LoJack SafetyNet
Personal locator bracelets for individuals with autism with a tendency to wander. After contacting authorities when your loved one goes missing, law enforcement and public safety officials use LoJack Search and Rescue Receivers to track the radio signal being emitted from the Personal Locator Bracelet on your loved one's wrist or ankle.
www.lojack.com/safetynet

Loved One Locator from Mobile Health Technologies LLC
Mobile Health Technologies provides the ultimate solution for Mobile Personal Safety - Anytime, Anywhere. ASD children at risk for bolting should not be without our products! Our service combines on-demand GPS location, automatic alerts when a user leaves a pre-defined "safe zone", and Automatic Fall Detection. Our devices also feature 2-way voice, and 24/7 monitoring by EMTs.
www.lovedonelocator.com

Please Find My Kid 
What do you do when a loved one suddenly disappears? If your loved one were using SecuraPal or LifeTrac, you could simply go to a secure web interface and find them on a map. With SecuraPal and LifeTrac you get peace of mind and your loved one gets to keep the independence they deserve and desire.
www.pleasefindmykid.com

Project Lifesaver International
Project Lifesaver International helps provide rapid response to save lives and reduce potential for serious injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive conditions. Project Lifesaver provides equipment, training, certification and support to law enforcement, public safety organizations and community groups throughout the country and nation.
www.projectlifesaver.org

I have just one final tip for special needs families with wanderers today.  Please let your neighbors know that you have a wanderer.  Just a couple of other families on your block that know to watch out for your child can be a huge help!  

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Staci is a follower of Christ, single-momma to 2 amazing adopted girls with special needs, and foster mom to many. Staci blogs at Our Different Reality you can also follow her on twitter @stacianne

Transitioning to Kindergarten

It feels as if the baby years are officially behind for my rascal. My "baby" will be transitioning into Kindergarten, and already we are celebrating some of the transitions, while trying to hold on a little bit longer in other ways. Yet, can we really hold on?

Preschool years are now behind us. This last year, Nichole had the most incredible teachers. She was in an inclusive classroom, with a regular teacher and a special education teacher. Her special ed teacher was...fantastic! She believed in Nichole, she saw her potential, and she loved her. She went above and beyond and was able to look at things from my perspective - the parent's perspective.

I received a note from her teacher and her aide, both of them expressing what a treat it was to have Nichole. They believed in her potential and really loved her. We were blessed to have them be a part of Nichole's life.

Nichole  is now attending summer school getting ready for Kindergarten. She loves it, and she really likes her teacher, so I feel like we will have a successful year. it also helps that her teacher is my friend and she knows my concerns with Nichole so well.

Another new development is that Nichole was recently diagnosed with speech Apraxia. While I wish I had pushed for this sooner, now we have pretty "tried and true" resources to work on her speech. It might sound crazy, but already I feel she is doing better.

And a celebration, we are done with pull-ups! One day we ran out of pull-ups and I got her in underwear. She was fine all day. She is a rascal, she had us, she conned us for who knows how long. So we are done! It is so nice not to worry about this anymore, and perfect to have her potty trained before starting Kindergarten. She finished preschool with big girl undies, and so far, no accidents at school!