Summer Safety for Autistic Children

I’m so excited to interview Maria Ostapov from AngelSense today! In this blog post she is going to share some summer safety tips for autistic children with you. This includes preventing wandering and staying safe around water.

Summer should be about sunshine, splashing, sandy toes, and sweet memories. But for many families of neurodivergent children, it can also come with serious safety concerns. From busy beaches and unfamiliar vacation spots to the heightened risk of wandering near water.. The season brings unique challenges that require proactive planning and the right tools.

Q&A with Maria Ostapov

In this special Q&A, I sat down with Maria Ostapov from AngelSense. A GPS safety device designed specifically with neurodivergent children in mind. We’re diving into all things summer safety, why this season is higher risk for elopement, what makes waterparks and public spaces especially tricky, and how families can use technology like AngelSense to add a layer of security and peace of mind on even the busiest summer adventures.

Whether you’re planning your first beach day of the year or a full-blown family vacation, this is one interview you don’t want to miss.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you purchase an item through my affiliate link, I may receive a % of commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support me, my family and my blog to bring you great content for free!

Why is summer such a high-risk time for wandering or elopement? Especially for neurodivergent children.

Summer presents increased wandering risks due to changes in routine (e.g., no school). This can mean less structured days, and more outings in unfamiliar or crowded environments like parks, pools, and vacation destinations. Neurodivergent children, especially those with autism, are more prone to elopement during transitions, sensory overload, or if they’re drawn to water. Many children with autism are attracted to water due to a combination of sensory and behavioral factors. The visual and tactile aspects of water, like its movement and buoyancy, can be soothing and engaging. Water can also provide a temporary escape from overwhelming sensory input, offering a sense of comfort and tranquility. 

(we actually wrote a detailed blog post about it a few years back which I would love for you to check out!)

What makes AngelSense different from regular GPS trackers when it comes to keeping children safe in public spaces like beaches, waterparks or theme parks?

AngelSense was designed specifically for children with special needs. Unlike regular GPS trackers, it offers continuous all-day tracking (not interval-based), proactive alerts for unexpected places or transit, and an assistive speakerphone for 2-way voice and an SOS button. Parents can instantly see their child’s live location, get alerted if they stray from safe zones, and even activate a loud alarm to help find them in a crowd.

What should families consider when choosing a GPS tracker for summer travel or outings?

Key considerations include:

• Real-time tracking without delays
• Accurate indoor and outdoor location
• Voice communication capability
• Sensory-friendly and nonremovable wearing options, compatible with waterproofed wearing
• Long battery life for all-day trips

AngelSense checks all these boxes and is backed by a community of families using it for special needs safety.

Are there any unique risks that families should be aware of when visiting waterparks or crowded holiday destinations?

Yes. Large crowds and unfamiliar environments increase the likelihood of a child slipping away unnoticed. Water adds an extra layer of danger, especially since many neurodivergent children are drawn to water. Loud environments also make it difficult to hear or communicate with a wandering child. This can lead to an over-stimulation, resulting in a meltdown that can increase the chances of elopement and pose a major safety risk. AngelSense’s live tracking, communication capabilities, alarm and proactive alerts help mitigate these risks.

How can AngelSense support peace of mind during family vacations, especially in unfamiliar environments?

AngelSense provides a sense of security by allowing parents to see exactly where their child is at all times.. even in new locations. Features like safe ride monitoring, unexpected place alerts, and 1&2-way voice help caregivers act quickly. Parents can check with the assistive speakerphone or activate the alarm if the child is out of sight.

Can AngelSense be worn at the beach or near water? Is it water-resistant or waterproof?

AngelSense itself is water-resistant and can withstand being splashed but not waterproof. However, a waterproof pouch is available to protect the device from water. 

What are the best ways to securely attach the AngelSense device to summer clothing like swimsuits, rash vests or lightweight clothes?

Wear it inside the Waterproof Pouch that can be securely attached to the waistline of clothing or swimsuits, inside pockets, bags, or worn using a belt through its loops or attached to a lanyard. 

Can the device track accurately in indoor environments like waterpark changing rooms, covered pools or shopping arcades?

AngelSense uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular reception to provide accurate indoor and outdoor tracking. While GPS may be limited inside concrete structures, the system is designed to provide the most accurate location possible with our dedicated “Indoor Search” feature.

How does AngelSense perform in large outdoor spaces with poor signal – like lakes and remote campgrounds?

Outdoors, GPS technology is generally accurate. Bad satellite signals and signal interference happen when something gets in the line of sight between the GPS device and the satellites. Tall buildings, dense foliage, mountains and even reflective objects can cause interference. In standard GPS devices, the lack of GPS reception is a major issue since there are no analytics and a caregiver is unable to track the device in such a case. AngelSense on the other hand, shows you the exact route to the last updated location and is smart enough to determine the device is still there.

The AngelSense device stores the GPS readings in its memory, and once the cellular connection is re-established, it will transmit the entire GPS recording it stored. This ensures that even in cases when the cellular connectivity is lost all the data for your device’s schedule is saved. Additionally, AngelSense developed different features to overcome general GPS limitations:

• 1-Way Voice lets you listen to their surroundings and get clues to their location, sometimes a voice or background sound can help with this. To pinpoint their location, you can call their name out loud and ask another caregiver to listen on the call. As you get closer your voice will sound louder.
• Use 2-Way Voice to call and immediately speak to your loved one because it has an auto-pickup speakerphone. You can calm them down, ask them to stop and return, have them describe their surroundings (if they are able to do so) or you can speak to people around them that could help.
• The “Alarm” feature has a soft or loud volume setting and can be activated remotely. It turns off automatically after 2 minutes. Be prepared, teach your loved one to ‘stop’ when they hear the alarm sound.

If a child wanders off at the pool or beach, how quickly can parents get an accurate location with AngelSense?

Parents receive live updates every 10 seconds in active tracking mode (Runner Mode). The system can send an alert within minutes of leaving a safe zone, and the location is typically updated almost instantly. The alarm feature helps locate the child by sound in real time, and parents can also speak through the assistive speakerphone if the child is wearing it openly.

How can families make sure the device is charged and ready for long summer days out?

• Charge the device overnight (takes about 2-3 hours for full charging)
• Check the battery level in the app before leaving
• Enable Power-Saving Mode for trips where movement is limited
• Consider bringing a portable USB power bank for long outings
• Get in the habit of charging both the device and the Guardian phone the night before

Are there any accessories you recommend for summer use – like waterproof pouches, belt clips or specific clothing attachments?

The Waterproof pouch is most recommended for any type of water activity. It comes with 2 Non-Removable Fasteners and can be securely attached to any type of clothing. We also offer a vast variety of other sensory-friendly and nonremovable wearing accessories.

(Use my code TeachingAutism at check out to get yourself a free waterproof pouch!)

Can you share a real-life success story from a parent or caregiver where AngelSense has prevented a crisis during a summer outing or a water-related event?

We have MANY success stories from our families which can you read all about here.

And here are some videos that your readers may find helpful too.

Want to Try AngelSense? Here’s a Bonus Just for You

If you’re considering getting AngelSense for your child this summer, I have a special offer just for my readers. When you purchase AngelSense through this affiliate link, you’ll receive:

• Free shipping
• A 30-day risk-free trial
• A free protective sleeve for your device
• Priority customer support from the AngelSense team 💬
• And an extra bonus: Use the code TeachingAutism at checkout to get a FREE waterproof pouch accessory. Perfect for beach days, pool trips, or unpredictable summer weather!

AngelSense has truly been a game-changer for so many families, especially during summer when outings, travel, and water safety become extra stressful. If you’ve been on the fence or unsure about which GPS tracker to choose.. This is a great opportunity to try AngelSense with a little extra support (and some helpful perks too!).

Click here to get started with AngelSense
*Affiliate link.

Helpful Links

If you found this blog post helpful you may also be interested in;

• How to Track My Autistic Child
• AngelSense vs. Apple AirTag – Which is Better for Keeping Kids Safe?
• Travel Tips for Neurodivergent Families
• AngelSense at Theme Parks – Keeping Kids Safe in Crowds

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And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my Free Resource Library for tons of classroom tools, visuals, and printables to make your teaching life easier (and a whole lot more fun!).

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Nikki