Happy New Year to Families!

As we step into a fresh year filled with new possibilities, I want to take a moment to wish you and your family a Happy New Year! This is a time for setting intentions, making progress, and finding solutions that empower our children and bring peace of mind to our homes. For families navigating the challenges of Autism, safety often tops the list of priorities—especially when it comes to preventing elopement.

Understanding Elopement: A Safety Priority

Elopement, or wandering, is a common concern for families with children on the Autism spectrum. It can happen at home, in public places, or even at school, and ensuring your child’s safety in these situations requires careful planning and proactive measures.

As a mom and Autism advocate, I understand the anxiety that comes with not knowing if your child is safe at all times. That’s why I created an Elopement Safety Guide tailored to support families and schools in preventing and responding to elopement incidents.

What’s Inside the Elopement Safety Guide?

This guide is designed to be a practical resource for families and educators. It includes:

• Home Safety Tips: Ideas for creating a secure environment at home, such as installing locks, alarms, and fencing.

• Community Alerts: Steps for creating a network of trusted neighbors, friends, and local authorities who can assist in case of elopement.

• School Safety Plans: Recommendations for working with your child’s IEP team to implement school-wide strategies, including:

  • Elopement protocols and staff training.

  • Individualized Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP).

  • Visual supports and transition tools to help your child stay engaged and feel safe.

  • Collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency responders.

• Elopement Emergency Checklist: A quick-reference guide for families and schools to respond effectively if elopement occurs, including who to call and what information to provide.

Why Schools Play a Vital Role

Children spend a significant portion of their day at school, making it essential for educators to understand and address elopement risks. My guide walks you through the key steps to ensure schools are prepared, such as:

• Adding specific goals and accommodations to your child’s IEP to address elopement behavior.

• Providing clear instructions for staff on what to do if your child attempts to elope.

• Building a team-based approach that involves parents, teachers, and school administrators.

Peace of Mind Through Preparation

My hope is that this guide will empower families and schools to work together in creating safer environments for children with Autism. Whether you’re just beginning this journey or looking for additional tools to support your child, the Elopement Safety Checklist provides practical steps to keep your child safe while giving you peace of mind.

Get Your Copy of the Elopement Safety checklist

As part of my mission to support families nationwide, this guide is available by request. Together, we can create a stronger foundation for safety, understanding, and success for every child.

Let’s make 2025 the year of empowerment, solutions, and progress for our amazing kids and their families. Wishing you all a safe, happy, and successful New Year!

Warm regards,

Tracey L. McEntyre

IEP Coach Tx

Helping families advocate, plan, and thrive.