What Is Elopement Behavior? & How Nova Supports Is Tackling It

For families of children with autism, few things are more frightening than a child disappearing from view. This is known as elopement, and it’s far more common—and dangerous—than many people realize.

So, what is elopement behavior, and how is Nova Supports helping reduce its risks through individualized ABA therapy and our innovative swim safety program in Ogden?

What Is Elopement Behavior?

Elopement behavior refers to when a person leaves a safe, supervised area without permission. For children and adults with autism, this can happen at home, school, the store, or even during therapy. These situations aren’t about mischief—they’re often the result of sensory overload, difficulty communicating, or a powerful urge to reach a specific location or object.

According to research, nearly half of autistic children attempt to elope, and many do so repeatedly. The consequences can be severe. Tragically, drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism who elope, as many are drawn to water without understanding the danger.

How Nova Supports Responds to Elopement—At Every Clinic

At Nova Supports, elopement safety is a priority across all of our ABA clinics—not just in Ogden. We provide one-on-one therapy for every client, which means each individual is paired with a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) during every session. This allows us to:

• Closely supervise clients at all times

• Prompt and teach safe behaviors in real-time

• Create personalized behavior plans that target elopement

• Practice preventative strategies and reinforce safety routines

When elopement is a concern, we work closely with families to build goals that are both preventative and practical—such as teaching clients to respond to their name, stop when called, or walk safely alongside caregivers in public.

Our Ogden Clinic Adds Another Layer of Protection: Swim Safety

At our Ogden clinic, we’ve gone a step further by integrating a clinic-based swim program into ABA therapy. Clients receive swim instruction as part of their treatment, using behavior-based methods to build water safety skills in a calm, structured setting.

Here's what that looks like:

• Swim lessons tailored to the individual—not just age or ability level

• ABA strategies used in the pool to increase safety, compliance, and comfort in water

• Lifeguard-certified staff and experienced swim instructors on-site, working 1-on-1 with each client, 1 at a time!

• Practice for real-world scenarios in a safe, controlled pool environment

It’s not just about learning to swim—it’s about equipping clients with critical skills that can save their lives.

Safety and Progress Go Hand-in-Hand

At Nova Supports, we know that real progress comes with action in the face of challenges. Whether your loved one is at high risk of elopement or just starting ABA therapy, we take every precaution to provide a secure, supportive, and individualized experience.

Our one-on-one staffing model and clinic-based safety initiatives help us meet the unique needs of each client... while giving families peace of mind!

Want to learn more about how Nova Supports addresses elopement behavior and teaches water safety?

📍 Visit our Ogden clinic or any of our ABA locations across Utah!

📞 Call (801) 888-3638

🌐 novasupports.com