Florida's First Choice for Autism Supports

F1C: The vital role that educators and therapist play in the prevention of wandering and drowning with children with ASD

January 16, 2026 10:15am 11:30am Salon 3

AbstractThis seminar addresses the critical and often overlooked intersection of wandering behavior and drowning risk in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Educators and therapy providers play a pivotal role in not only implementing these strategies within educational and clinical settings but also in supporting and coaching caregivers to generalize safety procedures across home and community environments.   Participants will explore the prevalence, risk factors, and environmental variables contributing to elopement and water-related incidents. The seminar will present evidence-based strategies for prevention, including antecedent interventions, skill acquisition programs, and stimulus control procedures. Special emphasis will be placed on the SAFE STEPS framework—a tiered safety strategy designed by UCF CARD to mitigate risk through environmental modifications, community collaboration, and direct instruction. Attendees will learn how to ethically and effectively support families in adopting individualized safety protocols, reinforcing critical skills, and accessing local and national resources.
Objectives1. Identify and describe the behavioral and environmental risk factors associated with wandering and drowning in children with ASD.
2.  Apply behavior analytic principles (e.g., differential reinforcement, stimulus control, antecedent interventions) to teach water safety and reduce elopement.
3.  Design and implement individualized safety protocols using the SAFE STEPS framework, including securing environments, using tracking devices, and engaging support networks.
4.  Coach caregivers to implement safety strategies in the home and community, including generalization of skills taught in school or therapy settings.  
All Behavior Family Health & Wellness Transition

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