by Barbara Worth Taylor Aronson loves water: loves to bathe in it, loves to swim in it and loves to run away from his mother and jump into it – even if the water is fast, deep and way too much for him to handle. He’s been repeatedly pulled out of, or away from, rivers, lakes and the ocean. Taylor Aronson, 11, has bolted towards natural bodies of water despite close supervision. (Photo courtesy of Sarah White) Taylor, 11, is among the one in 68 children in the United States whom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. About half of children with autism stray from safe places, a behavior known as “wandering.” Some take off in a burst, or “bolt.” They generally want to get to a body of water, favorite place or object of fascination such as a train, road sign or fire truck. Sometimes they want to get away from something frightening, confusing or irritating that “triggers” their urge to fight or flee. Such triggers can include loud or shrill noises, barking dogs, certain songs, words or people, or just general commotion. But unlike Taylor, not all children who wander survive. The National Autism Association says at least 78 children have died since 2009. Most of them drowned. NAA and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children are working to heighten awareness about wandering and the lengths to which children with autism will go to pursue their fixations. “Never underestimate the things these kids will do,” says Robert Lowery, vice president of NCMEC’s Missing Children Division. He describes the children as clever, cunning and determined. Taylor’s mother, Sarah White, urges parents to expect wandering episodes and prepare for them. “You have to anticipate that sometime this is going to happen,” she says. Given the possibility of wandering to water – even among children who hate to take baths and otherwise seem to hate water – the ability to swim could mean their survival. Some YMCA locations offer swimming lessons for special needs children. The Denver Y’s Autism Respite Program, for example, pairs each child with a private teacher specially trained about autism. The NAA has posted a list of other YMCA locations offering lessons. Lori McIlwain, co-founder and board chair of the NAA, urges parents to have their children take lessons, but cautions that swimming lessons alone won’t keep a child from drowning. It’s “only one of the pieces to this multi-layered approach” to keeping children with autism safe,“ she says. For example, safety features in these children’s homes commonly include door alarms and multiple locks. If a child has defeated locks in the past, parents might consider specialty locks as a last resort. Posting “Stop” signs on the insides of doors can also prompt a child tempted to wander outdoors to stay inside instead. Even if their child has never wandered, parents should tell local police and fire departments, schools and neighbors about their son or daughter’s autism. Authorities should be given a picture of the child, along with written information about his or her interests, favorite places, fears, triggers, communication methods, and medicines. The children should always have ID, attached in any way they will wear it: on a bracelet, on a shoe tag – even by means of a temporary tattoo. White dresses Taylor in bright colors and neon so that he can be more easily spotted. She says police have agreed to post a sign in front of her house saying