Columbia Heights, MN. The Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN) is honored to announce the release of a groundbreaking video aimed at raising awareness and understanding of elopement in autistic children. This informative video, titled "Understanding Elopement: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers of Autistic Children," is now available through MAAN’s YouTube channel in Somali, Oromo, Amharic, and English.
Elopement, or wandering, is a common behavior among autistic children, often leading to dangerous situations and increased anxiety for families. The video helps families understand causes of elopement and offers practical strategies to help parents and caregivers navigate this challenging issue.
“Our community is heartbroken over the loss of life of autistic children due to elopement and drowning. If we can help even one family better understand the issue and feel empowered to prevent it, we feel compelled to do so” reported Fatima Molas, MAAN’s Co-Founder.
“The video aims not only to educate but also to empower families and caregivers, helping them to feel less isolated and better informed” stated Delia Samuel, MAAN Co-Founder. “As parents of autistic children ourselves, we want to share knowledge that can lead to proactive measures in preventing elopement and ensuring the safety of our children.”
We encourage families, educators, and community members to share this resource widely to help raise awareness about elopement in autistic children.
About the Multicultural Autism Action Network:
The Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN, which is the Somali word for “mind”), is a non-profit organization founded by parents of autistic children in multicultural communities. Our mission is to share knowledge, education, and support to families of children with disabilities in multicultural communities resulting in better outcomes for our kids.
For more information about the video or to request interviews with the creators, please contact
Maren Christenson Hofer
Executive Director
Multicultural Autism Action Network.
Office: 612 470 7003
Mobile: 612 701 5030 (txt preferred)
Email: info@maanmn.org