Turning Point ABA Autism Clinic

08/19/2026

Children with will often go to water within a few hundred feet to half-mile, often ponds. Even children who were described as fearful of or uninterested in water have been found in water.

Caregivers: Call 911 immediately while you search the nearest water to your child's last known location.

Dispatchers: Instruct callers to search nearby water immediately while help is on the way. Those crafting the WEA alert language can use the WEA tool here: AutismWEA.org.

Community members: Search the closest body of water first.

Research by NASC's leadership shows that nearly half of children who eloped were under the supervision of someone other than a parent. Elopement can happen quickly, quietly, and during everyday moments under any type of supervision.

Prepare before an emergency:

- Search your home address online and identify nearby ponds, pools, creeks, retention basins, and other water hazards.

- Physically locate them and know how to get there quickly.

- Ask neighbors about backyard pools and other hidden water hazards.

- Inform trusted neighbors about your child's tendency to wander/elope and the connection between autism and water risk.

- Create an emergency plan before you ever need it.

Download our SafeSteps for Autism Guide to learn more.

08/19/2026

Turning Point worked with Helen Stevens Memorial pool and Melanie Radabaugh for the second year to provide swim lessons to all our children. Drowning is a serious concern. We are so grateful for Cass City pool and all the lifeguards, behavior techs and BCBAs who made this possible 🧩💙

URGENT UPDATE: Community leaders, the U.S. is now averaging nine autism-related elopement deaths per month. This is a crisis in need of immediate action.

In the last seven days alone, six children have died following elopement. Two cases involved a torn or broken screen door, multiple children drowned in ponds, and multiple rescues have also occurred.

Among 2026 cases where race is known, nearly four out of five fatalities involved Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American children and adults.

Urgent action is needed to strengthen community supports, services, tools, training, and prevention programs, so that these deaths can be replaced with safe recoveries.

Elopement can happen very quickly and quietly, overnight while a family is sleeping, or right in front of a parent or teacher when a child abruptly bolts and outruns them.

In one of our previous studies, 45% of elopement cases occurred under non-parent supervision. This is not simply a matter of “bad parenting” or a parent failing to watch their child.

There is no single safeguard that can prevent every elopement incident. Supervision can have gaps. Locks and alarms can fail. Screens can tear. Routines change. Emergencies happen.

It's why prevention must be layered.

This Swiss Cheese Model for Autism Elopement uses NASC's SAFE framework to help families and communities think through multiple layers of prevention, preparation, and emergency response.

Please review and share the flyer. A single layer may have a gap, but multiple overlapping layers can help keep that gap from becoming a tragedy.

Download the flyer at: https://tinyurl.com/ElopementSwissCheeseModel

Dispatchers, Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) language is now available at https://autismsafetycouncil.github.io/alert-generator/

Our data dashboard is available at AutismDash.org, or https://www.autismsafetycouncil.org/search-water-first

To assist your community, write us at [email protected].

We need communities across the country working together to prevent these deaths and recognize and protect those at highest risk, particularly children with under the age of 10.

08/19/2026

08/14/2026

Thumb Area Psychological Services & Turning Point ABA Autism Clinic are CLOSED Friday 8/14/26

07/30/2026

Getting excited about Differently Abled Day next week! Just picked up our shirt from Larsens Graphics! They look phenomenal! Thank you Larsens Graphics for your support we appreciate you!

07/09/2026

07/03/2026

Thumb Area Psychological Services and Turning Point ABA Autism Clinic will be CLOSED Friday 7/3/26.

Happy Fourth of July 🇺🇸🧨🎇

06/20/2026

PD Day festivities ☀️🌺⛱️😎🌸