Re: OT- escape artist

July 11, 2012

Hi Jayne, I have a friend who's son was just like this at about the

same age. She is an oracle of information on things like this so

might be able to help you. I'll send her your e-mail addy and ask her

to mail you ok?

Best wishes, Tonia

July 11, 2012

Hi Jayne

My son was like this and we did the same as you, kept raising the fencing, put

mesh on the front gate so he couldnt climb over, padlocked the gate and left a

box outside for the postman, etc, etc. His motivation was food and he once ran

to the corner shop 1/4 of a mile away and helped himself to the chocolate bars

on the shelves. I made a flyer with a poster of him and a description plus info

about autism, with my mobile number on and the name of our road and gave it to

the places where I thought he might go, to all the neighbours, local police, etc

so that if anyone saw him they would know who to contact.

Other motivations for him were sensory eg if someone had builders sand in their

garden he would go and play in that. I tried to make sure all the things he

would seek out were available to him at home (not the chocolate though!)

I also talked to as many neighbours as I could and asked them to look out for

him. Everyone was really helpful and at least twice he was brought home by

neighbours.

We moved house 3 years ago and our new house has electric gates with a 4 digit

code which we do not say aloud or write down. He hasnt worked it out yet, though

he does go up and press a few numbers occasionally. Before we moved we put new

post and wire fences all around the garden with rigid mesh with holes too small

to get a foothold on. He has only got out once when he followed my car out of

the gates in the dark (they have a 2 minute delay before closing) he went to our

neighbours house and they heard him scrabbling around outside and brought him

home.

I did think about the different tagging devices you can get but the urge seems

to be less as he has got older so at the moment touch wood we are ok. He is 13

now though so you may have a few more years of it Im afraid.

Our worst time (Mandi will remember) was when we were on holiday, staying one

road away from the beach, and he got out.We had only been there a day so we had

no idea where he would go and he is attracted to water. We called the police who

were brilliant and called in the coastguard, helicopter search etc. I went out

looking for him asking anyone I met, one lady lent me her mobile phone so I

could keep calling the police and home (it was a long time ago!) she had no idea

who I was or if she would ever see her phone again but she wanted to help. Still

brings a tear to my eye. The police found him trying the door of a house 3 doors

away. He was covered in sugar so had obviously gone into someone elses house and

raided their kitchen. We never found out where but I bet they got a shock!

Our main search criteria for a holiday now is " enclosed garden " and " lockable

doors and windows " . Doesnt matter where it is!

One person did question my handing flyers out to shops, neighbours etc as I

could be allerting paediphiles but I think you have to weigh up the risks. I

believe most people in the world are good and will help in a crisis.

Not sure if this has helped but at least you know you are not alone!

x

>

> Hi All

> I'm just posting to see what experiences and solutions others may have come up

with to an ongoing problem we have with Harry. He has always been very active

and a climber and we have made various adaptations around the house and garden

to keep him safe. 18 months ago he got out of the garden and was missing for

about 25 minutes which was just awful - as a result we altered the fencing in

the garden but this weekend he managed to scale this and was ran up into the

town weaving across traffic and so on. Luckily a mum of one of his brothers

freinds recognised him and managed to get him into a shop while someone else ran

down to fetch us. Needless to say we have again altered the fencing but I guess

there are limits as to how high it can go. He is 5 nearly 6 and very strong and

agile. What things have you all tried? Are there any kind of alarm systems?

Should we be in contact with Social Services for any help? Harry has LD and ASD

and is non-verbal. Many

> thanks for any responses.

> Jayne

>

July 11, 2012

Jayne,

Two autistic brothers in Cambridge were always escaping. They were such

brilliant climbers that in the end they didn't even need toeholds. The City

Council wasn't sure what to do to help for a while but in the end they put in

security fencing of a type used for detention centres all round the garden. They

had to apply to themselves for planning poermission first because I think the

fence was 7' tall. The way to get a disabled facilities grant is via the local

NHS Occupational Therapy service. It isn't means tested when it is for a child.

Margaret