MRC-Eloping: Autistic Perspectives on Departure and Well-being

Why do Autistic people leave places – such as schools, homes, workplaces, events – suddenly and in ways that other people find concerning? While people can use many different terms, such as wandering, absconding, bolting, or running away, some psychologists have called this behaviour “eloping”.

Sometimes these departures result in people getting lost, encountering dangerous situations, or being reported missing. Most other research has investigated ways to stop Autistic people from leaving places, or focused on the dangers that can face people when they depart. Almost no research has asked Autistic people what leave-taking means for them and how they would like to be supported.

In contrast, our project asked Autistic people about why they left places, and how they want other people to respond to support their safety and well-being. We share what we learned from an online survey and interviews with Autistic people who have experiences of with “eloping”, and talk about what this research means for service providers and the broader community.