7 Steps to Keep Your Wandering Student Safe

If you have a question or concern about special education law, school administration, federal standards, or the overall rights of a student, please feel free to call the expert education law attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. in Westport today at (203) 221-3100 .

For many parents, preparing for back-to-school may involve some concerns about their children losing some of the costly or valuable supplies and electronic gear they will be bringing along with them this fall. But for parents and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum, worries about losing track of their child because of a tendency to wander is significant.

According to Autism Speaks, wandering-related incidents among individuals with autism are far too common. So in response to unfortunate incidents and the fears they have raised for parents in the autism community, the agency has put together a list of steps parents and caregivers can take to prevent wandering incidents, and to help keep their child safe at school.

1. If your child has a tendency to wander, it is critical to address wandering issues in his or her individualized education program (IEP). If there is a history of wandering incidents, it is important to call a meeting with school staff, administrators, and your child's IEP team to make them aware of these past situations, as well as educate them on the autism wandering issue in general. If something changes or an incident occurs, you as a parent have the right to amend the IEP and adjust the particular items, at any time.

2. Write a letter requesting that you always be informed, immediately and in writing, of any wandering incident on or off the campus. If your child requires one-on-one supervision, be sure to make this extremely clear to school staff - and clearly documented in the IEP - and emphasize that under no circumstances should your child be left alone at any time.

3. Carefully document all wandering-related incidents. Sharing this information with the staff at your child's school will help prepare them if such an incident occurs at school. For example, where has your child been found in the past? What are his or her fascinations or obsessions? Where would he/she most likely be drawn to near campus?

4. Try to eliminate all possible triggers that have led to wandering in the past. For example, if your child is drawn to water, be sure that all pools, lakes, etc in the area of the school are blocked off so that there is no chance your child will be able to access them.

5. Ask what the school's policies are on wandering prevention. Understand any and all security measures used by the school. If you think something is missing (i. e., a barrier you find necessary that may not be in place), be sure to voice your concerns. Speaking up is often required to ensure your child's safety. A note from your child's doctor noting these incidents could help provide sound reasoning for strong security measures.

6. Introduce your child to all security staff. Provide the security team with more information about your child, such as how to calm him or her down, whether or not he or she responds well to touch, sound, etc. All security should be aware of your child's tendency to wander so they take extra note of the importance of keeping an eye on your child.

7. In addition to including all wandering-related information, be sure that your child's IEP also includes safety skills and wandering-prevention measures. Include these skills in your child's therapy programs if you are able to do so.

If you have a child with a disability and have questions about special education law, please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq., at 203-221-3100, or at JMaya@mayalaw.com, to schedule a free consultation.

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Source- Take These Seven Steps To Prevent Wandering From Your Child's School; Autism Speaks Resources, The Newtown Bee (Connecticut), Aug. 5, 2016, at 20