ETB 32: Little Houdini - A True Tale of My Ever Eloping Son with Sandy Deppisch

Embrace the Blessing

ETB 32: In this episode I share a story about a time when Josiah at 9 years old, left our home unescorted and none of us were aware that he was even gone. Sadly, this was not the first time it happened and it most definitely was not the last. We had some pretty frightening experiences with Josiah eloping. Despite our best efforts to keep him safely INSIDE our home, he was clever and oh so fast at figuring out how to slip away unattended. He had no sense of danger or the ability to protect himself.
Fortunately, we either found him pretty quickly each time or he was returned to us by a kind stranger. I'm so grateful Josiah's eloping days are over. It was a terrifying time for us.
Statistics suggest nearly half of children with autism wander or bolt from safe places. If you have a child who wanders, my heart goes out to you. Elopement is a very difficult behavior to work through.
Here are some resources and products that may help:
What to Do When Your Child Elopes
https://www.marcus.org/autism-resources/autism-tips-and-resources/what-to-do-when-your-child-elopes
Wandering Off (Elopement) Autism Tool Kit
https://pediatrust.com/Autism-Wandering-Off-Elopement
The Autism Project - Elopement Prevention Community
https://theautismproject.org/training-education/elopement-prevention/elopement-prevention-general-resources
AngelSense Tracking Device
https://www.angelsense.com/gps-for-autism-wandering/
Autism Elopement and Wandering Kit for Families
https://parentingchaos.com/autism-elopement-wandering-kit-for-families/
Pathfinders for Autism - Tracking Devices
https://pathfindersforautism.org/resources/safety/tracking-devices/
The Best Kids GPS Trackers and Wearables of 2022
https://www.safewise.com/resources/wearable-gps-tracking-devices-for-kids-guide/
Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/