“Over the years, there have been many things Mateo has done that brought me to the brink of a heart attack. But one recurring worry…wandering. Studies show that 49% of children on the autism spectrum have a tendency to wander or bolt from safe settings. And since our children have little or no sense of danger, drowning is the leading cause of death in our kids, followed by traffic accidents, followed by dehydration, heat strokes, hypothermia, and falls. This is a very real concern.
My son is nonverbal. He can say his first name, but beyond that he can’t tell you
where he lives, who his momma is, what is his phone number. He could probably show you HOW to get to his house, but would he? And would a stranger even understand?”
—Christy, autism mom

STORIES FROM THE SPECTRUM
A Parent’s Perspective
*Full stories available at: autismbelize.org/a-parents-perspective/