ESCAPE Kits for Elopement Prevention in Children With Autism

Education and Safety for Children With Autism to Prevent Elopement (ESCAPE) Kits Study

This study will evaluate elopement prevention kits for children with autism spectrum disorder who exhibit elopement behavior such as dashing or wandering away from safe settings. Caregivers will be asked to rate how useful individual kit items are at reducing elopement, and to provide feedback about how ESCAPE kits affect their stress levels and ability to engage meaningfully in community settings. This study will also investigate how useful kit items are for various age groups in childhood and adolescence. Information will be used to guide development of a larger elopement prevention program.

open-label feasibility study evaluates the ESCAPE elopement prevention kits for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Kits include safety tools and visual aids intended to reduce elopement behavior. Caregivers assess the usefulness of each item and report on continued use, stress levels, and perceived impact on elopement behavior. Data will inform future large-scale studies.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers of children ages 4-11 years old with a formal diagnosis of ASD (per caregiver report) who have contacted the study team expressing concerns regarding elopement behavior.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant doesn't live with the child.
• Only one child under the participant's care can receive the kit.
• Participant doesn't confirm their name, mailing address, and preferred email for kit delivery and post-intervention survey reception.