Autism-related wandering/elopement continues to be a critical issue within the autism community

This $148,130 federal Project Grant award from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance will support the National Autism Association's (NAA) efforts to reduce deaths and injuries of individuals with autism who wander or elope from safe environments.

The funding will allow the NAA to continue its "Big Red Safety Box" program, which provides educational and prevention tools on wandering risks and strategies to families, schools, and first responders across the U.S. The grant supports the NAA's core safety initiatives under the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Assistance Program (CFDA 16.015), which focuses on implementing locative tracking technologies, developing wandering prevention programs, and raising public awareness to address this critical issue for the autism community.

Since 2009, the national autism association (NAA) has recorded nearly 350 deaths in individuals with autism as a result of wandering/elopement. Over the last decade, NAA has worked to create data-driven training, prevention/response protocols, and programs to reduce injuries and deaths in individuals with autism. Federal assistance will allow NAA to continue its efforts and its core safety program, the big red safety box, which provides educational and prevention tools to families, schools, and first responders throughout the U.S. With this federal grant, the NAA will be able to continue this important program.