My daughter is autistic, and runs away,?

Question

I need to find out is there any device I can get, she won't wear jewerly for a name tag, she does not speak. she is 6yrs old. She ran away today, we found her 50 acre over at a lake, trapped by some braches in the water. The police has scanned her picture to come up each time our address come up. We have tried locks, alarms, braclets, necklaces, Painting shirts with info. on it. The next thing is a dog shock collar, Just jokeing about that, I am desperate. Any ideals?

Answer 1

what do youy do to her???

jk

um try bolt locks and a fenced in yard . or  there are alarms you can put on a cabinet or door and when it opens , the alarm will go off....but its no that loud....idk .search google.

Answer 2

I have no experience, i am young.  My friend's little sister is autistic amoung other things.  They have little latches where she can't reach to make sure she can't get out and if she does an alarm sounds so they get her before she would leave.

Answer 3

what??????

Answer 4

Here is an Article on the topic of tracking:

Now having a personal chip is becoming, well, not quite the norm but a ready possibility. Kevin Warwick, the cybernetics prof, says, "As the topic becomes more accessible in the media, people get used to the idea; it's not such a frightening thing ... If it's not there this year, it's only a year or two downstream."

A Japanese firm is already testing chips to track lost relatives.

Some of the possibilities portrayed in the July 9 Sunday magazine: a "decoder" ring, an implant in the human iris to be read with a retinal scanner, even an oval-shaped "genegg" for the belly button.

With commercial interests hard at work to spread the gospel of human tracking and monitoring -- voluntarily, and for our own good, of course, and others normalizing chip implantation, it might not be too soon to start preparing for a whole new silicon craze. Excuse me, but is that a chip in your ***?

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology already exists to track us wherever we might care to go -- the problem is keeping the sensor up and running, giving off signals all the time from inside of our bodies. Thus far, the biggest technological challenge is energy; a tracking chip needs a power source. Think how annoying it would be to have to plug your arm into the wall to recharge yourself like a pesky cellphone; besides, it would make it near-impossible to thwart kidnappers or retrieve lost kiddies if rescuers didn't find the missing before the charge died.

There's also the vexing dilemma of getting the chip and its power source small enough for comfort and aesthetics. Who wants an unsightly chip bulge?

Rest of article at:

Source:

http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/20...

Answer 5

The patch on clothing is what I would try first, you could also sow them on to hair ties and buckles. Another thing is, you could get yourself a similar information necklace or bracelet (let her choose both of them) to wear when you're with her. She might go by example. Otherwise, have high fencing that goes all the way around your ward with a lock that requires a combination (perhaps the kind that you can change) and NOT A KEY. My autistic brother watched my mom open the lock with the key and figured it out, so he started stealing the key to escape. Move any objects/plants that could help her escape AWAY from the fence (like trees, forts, benches, cars) so that she can't climb up on them. Put deadbolts on your house that requires a key on both sides, and keep the key(s) on you and your husband at ALL times. Put locks on all windows in the house. Make sure you take her outside the year to do fun things lots, and maybe she'll stop running. When my brother was a runner, my mom would take a permanent  marker, and everyday write his information on his arm like a tattoo. That could work if she undressed while running away. Make sure it's in several places, like tags on pants and shirts, tags in shoes, on socks, on necklace, etc. My heart goes out to you. God bless. I'm praying for you. Good luck with your daughter. She's a beautiful blessing!

Answer 6

Try finding something she is interested in. Don't pressure her into doing anything. Let her find something she enjoys and then gently encourage it.

Answer 7

It seems like she's against everything you've tried. I can't think of anything. I'm a diabetic and I'm supposed to wear some sort of bracelet but I never do. I'm also supposed to carry some sort of ID that lets people know I'm diabetic in case something happens. Maybe you can try getting her an ID. I don't know if that would work either and she seems kind of you to be keeping up with an ID but anything's worth a try I'm guessing... Or I heard about these chips they were going to start putting into people I don't know if they do or nont but I heard something about it that keeps track of them if they were to run away or go missing or something. I don't know if that was true since it was for babies but it is true now for pets. I don't know if you'd want to do that or if they'd let you but if it keeps her safe I'd probably look into something like that haha.

Answer 8

My daughter was a runner as well, I understand the nightmare of looking down for a second and looking up to see her gone.

There are temporary tattoos in which you can place personal information, but that only helps if someone finds her. We used a sharpie if we were going to the mall or a public place...just printed 'autistic, please call (555) cell-fone.

http://shop.tottoos.org/category.sc;jses...

Do you have a behavioralist working on the running with her? I know that for the most part it is a spur of the moment thing, so what really needs to be worked on is 1) choosing to stay close and 2) letting you know when she needs to run.

We did a lot of practicing at the grocery store and mall, in the early mornings and late at night (when it wasn't so busy and she was easier to track) We rewarded with mini m&m for staying right beside me. I kept hold of her most of the time and just let go for two seconds at a time. When I could feel the tension (I got used to it I guess) and could predict that she needed to run, we'd go outside and say "Run to the light pole and back" and then i'd run with her, and hands on turn her around. I got in the best shape ;-) When we returned to the spot, I rewarded again. We rewarded like crazy for months, and then weaned the reward back to just verbal, "Great job!" "Thanks for coming back!" etc.

It just takes time, your daughter is only six. Mine is ten. She did get it, and she is doing so good. She'll run for about 20 feet but I don't even need to remind her to slow down or stop or turn around. She does it, for verbal rewards.

We live in the city, so there were a few times that I would draw with sidewalk chalk stopsigns all around our yard. We got paper ones from Mardels and laminated them, and hung them on the fence and gate. I put a GO sign on the backdoor. Lots of visual reminders will help.

Answer 9

They have specially trained dogs for autistic children. You mentioned a golden retriever, is it your dog? If not, look into the service dog idea. Search for autism service dogs. You can also train your own dog, but that can be hard unless you have an expert to help. A dog could alert you when she runs off, a good one would be able to take you in the direction she went. I wish you the best, and dont listen to people who say you are a bad parent, they don't understand how hard it is to deal with a child with such serious issues.

Answer 10

Sadly if you can't keep some jewelry on her, maybe a tattoo?  I'd read about someone doing that to a man who loses his memory (amnesia).

Answer 11

You can buy certain dead bolt locks that can be installed high from a six year old's reach, and they can be installed "backwards", so that you need a key to unlock it from inside the house. Only you have the key so problem solved! I have 2 Down Syndrome children and when they were young, they would occasionally open the front door and go out to the front step alone, so we did this and no more problem!! The cost is worth her safety, yes? Also, not to judge...but how long before you realize she is missing if you found her FIFTY acres away??

Answer 12

there are gps locating devices for sale around $500.

Search for GPS tracking devices. It might be a bit cumbersome but would be worth a try.

God bless you for beaing your cross.

I know how it is.

Check this out

http://www.globaltrackinggroup.com/

Answer 13

Oh my goodness, I know that sick feeling having had a young person abscond from a group activity, from what was supposed to be a secure venue.

At the time they were not under my care, but thankfully I found them, standing on the edge of a very sharp drop, into a river. I felt physically sick knowing had I not ran to the river, rather than look around the venue, we could have had a drowned child. This child now has a one on one carer, at all times.

Having your daughters photo with the police is a good start, I assume your on a large property, and out of town, but make sure your neigbours know your daughter, and they have your home & mobile phone numbers, so if they find her wondering around they can contact you, immediately.

As she wont wear bracelets etc, insure she is always wearing bright colours, so if she does abscond she is easily visible.

Is it possible to have the fences and house doors alarmed, so if they are breached they set of an alarm & signal via a LCD screen, or have electric fences installed, especially around the perimeter of the house, which may cost a bit, but it maybe worth the effort.

As someone else has said a specially trained dog, would also be helpful, as it can be trained to bark, if she goes out side the house perimeter, and stay with her at all times, even if she does breach the set perimeter.

Another thought would be an house arrest alarm, (sounds harsh), but the aim of this product is ensure the person is within the set perimeter, and will emit a audible alarm if the person, exceeds the house boundaries. The anklet is difficult to remove, and a second base unit could be installed at the school, there for saving time and stress to you and teachers.

I wish you luck, in finding a solution to your daughters absconding.

Answer 14

Trella, first of all, dont let some of the answers on here get to you. Some people lack compassion and the open mind to understand. Your situation sounds scary. My son was non-verbal for many years. He is 12 now and just this year learned to say his first and last name-still doesnt do address or phone number. I too tried ID bracelet, dogtag necklace etc.

I agree with some of the answers about GPS. Is she at all interested in a cell phone? There are new kids phones out that you can totally control and put in numbers to allow- like your own, and they have a GPS unit in it. Chitterchatter offers one. www.hop-on.com

Have you ever looked into a service dog? That might be a perfect match. They are amazingly trained and could be trained to alert you if she crossed a certain point. http://www.caninecompanions.org/

Answer 15

First of all, my heart goes out to you.  Children with autism who run usually do loose their running legs in a few years, but before that, it is scary.   If it's possible I would fence in the areas around your house so when she's running out of your home she's at least slowed down by a fence.   To slow her down even more, I use a lock that requires two hands, preferably out of her reach.   Would putting dead bolts that require keys to open them help at all?  

Not to frighten you, but a young autistic boy about the age of your daughter drowned in a nearby lake while playing hide and go seek.  His brother was diagnosed with autism two years later and the local autism association was able to help them get a low interest loan for a high fence.  

I, personally, would also begin looking for supportive psychiatrists to administer appropriated medicines.  They do exist.  In my opinion, I'd rather over medicate her now rather than face a potential tragedy.

**I'm glad to hear that you have some relief.  I don't know if it's appropriate for her or not as I've taught high schoolers since 2000, but maybe some sedation medicines may be in order.  If there's a pattern of time of day or even on the weekends, it might help.  Best wishes to you and your little one!

Answer 16

I guess first question is WHY and HOW she is able to run away. If she does this and you know this  you need to find ways to just PREVENT her from running away.

Baby gates?

Locks that are too high for her?

Hire a nanny to watch her at the times you can't watch her constantly - i.e. running errands/housework?

A fence around your yard outside that she can't get out of?

Answer 17

I don't know if you have tried this, but could you get her a puppy or small dog like a shedzu. Something she can shower attention on? She might not wander off. I once worked with emotionally disturbed and various stages of mentally retarded young persons and often they were wonderful with animals. I would suggest a female though as they looked to mother quicker. I hope this helps. I also hope she does not wander off anymore. It cannot be easy being a parent no matter what our children have.

Answer 18

Not sure if this would work or not, but there is a gentleman in PA that does safety seminars for paretns of children with autism. His son was also a runner adn nonverbal. He makes a thing like a luggage tag or dogtag that fits on the shoe so it isnt rubbing them. It has name address phone number and how to help the person as they have autism. I wish I could remember his last name first name is Dennis and he is mentioned in The 10 Things Your Child with Autism Wishes you Knew by Ellen Nothbom.

Answer 19

What about sewing a patch onto her shirt or the back pocket of her pants?  She doesn't undress herself when she goes wandering, does she?  That way you can have your contact information and whatever else in a place that would be unlikely to get lost (or, at least it would get lost WITH her).

That's the only idea I can think of if she won't keep jewelry of any kind on, short of using a tracking chip (such as those they put in cats and dogs so the pound can ID them, but I don't think even if you did get one for her, anyone would know to look for it)... or getting a tattoo, which probably wouldn't be a good solution either, as your contact info will change over time.

At least, that's the only "afterwards" solution to get her back - otherwise, I'd look at preventative measures, which I'm sure you're also doing.  There have been some good suggestions above.  If you can't find latches she can't escape from, you may want to try putting some of those door alarms up.  They trigger when the door is opened and you can find a set of 4 at like Home Depot or Ace Hardware for $30, give or take.  That way, at least you would know when she gets out.

Good luck!

Answer 20

find a mini tracking devise and right after u washed it put it on every one of her shirts and keep it on ur computer a map of some kind so a red button will flash indcating her if there is one or just try no matter what to get her not to run away maybe she has aggresive problems

Answer 21

bad gurl

Answer 22

get a metal bracelt (one she cant get off) put it on her while shes sleeping and get her name and adress n stuff engraved on it !!♥ ME (omg i hope tht heart thingy wrked i just learned it  dont laugh at me if it didnt!!)

Answer 23

Have you considered taking her to a track say, every Saturday to let her run. Time her speed make a game of it. Keep records of her speed. If she runs away any time during the week punish her by not taking her to the track the following Saturday. It may work better if you could do it more often: however, I  realize that may be too hard for you. Since she loves to run maybe this will help her run in a safe and positive way. Who knows one day she may win a gold metal or at least be a track star. I doubt that she runs to be disobedient, but more likely see likes the way it feels. Just because she does not speak does not mean that she will not understand reward and punishment. Just make sure you do not change the routine at all. I hope this helps, if you can not take her to a track maybe you can make one on your property. If you do I would try to make it the same size as a high school track around the football field. If you build it yourself, talk about it to her, be excited about it. Maybe call her your little track star, if she breaks her record give her a ribbon and be proud of her. Good Luck. I hope this helps. I actually have not thought of this until now. I have a 3 year old that is an escape artist as well. He is doing better now, but at age two he took down the shower curtain rod and was trying to push open the chain lock at the top of the door. Now he likes jumping off of stuff. He has no fear what so ever. If none of this works the only other solution is to get another person to help you watch her so that she will be supervised at all times. You have to be able to use the bathroom and take a shower and sleep sometime.