44. Managing Elopement in the Classroom

Autism Academy 360

In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Hollady tackles a common challenge in special education classrooms: elopement behaviors. Lisa breaks down elopement as actions students might take to avoid tasks or instructions and highlights the value of collecting ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) data to understand what drives these behaviors. She shares five practical strategies to reduce and manage elopement, like teaching students to request breaks, using visual schedules, offering choices, preparing students for transitions with timers, and using differential reinforcement. Each strategy aims to support students in a positive, structured way, making the classroom a safe, productive space for everyone.