B4-F Behavior Analysts and the Autism Child Drowning Problem              

Young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) drown at an exceptionally high rate. This is a problem nationwide, but especially in Florida, as we have so much access to water with pools, spas, canals, retention ponds, lakes, and the ocean and gulf.  Elopement sets the occasion for a child drowning, and children with ASD elope or wander at a high rate. 

In this presentation, we will summarize a recent in-depth report commissioned by the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach Council and written by Jon Burstein.  Jon found the rates for these children to be far higher than expected. His work identified drowning locations and other factors permitting better prevention measures. Then we examine the problem of wandering for children with ASD and behavioral assessments and interventions to address this deadly problem.  We offer specific recommendations for BCBAs to assess the need for interventions for elopement and other safety challenges and ideas for implementing agency practices to ensure behavioral staff are pro-safety at all times.  Next, we discuss applications of evidence-based practices in Autism and how those can be applied to the aquatic environment for skill building with safety at the core of all water-based interactions. Finally, we offer recommendations for how attendees can play a role in community-wide safety and drowning prevention initiatives for the Autism community. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. State the relative risk for drowning for children with ASD in Florida.
2. List three behavior analytic assessments to determine child safety risk before behavioral intervention.
3. Describe three ABA staff practices to ensure safety from elopement for a child with ASD.
4. Identify and implement an application of evidence-based practice that can be used for skill-building in the aquatic environment to keep individuals with Autism safe. 

Speakers