Webinar: Safety in Mind-Elopement Behavior in Autistic Children
Date Published: September 24, 2025
Elopement, also called wandering, is when an autistic child leaves a caregiver or safe place unexpectedly. It can be stressful for families, and at times even dangerous or life-threatening. In this recorded webinar, Dr. Pereira-Smith shares what may contribute to elopement and offers practical, respectful ways to support safety across settings.
Who is Silvia Pereira-Smith?
Silvia Pereira-Smith, M.D., is a board-certified Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she provides subspecialty evaluation and ongoing care for children with learning and behavioral differences, especially for those who primarily speak another language besides English, since she is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. While participating in various types of research projects related to neurodevelopmental conditions, Dr. Pereira-Smith has also been involved in national-level work that disseminates training related to the impact of discrimination on child health. In addition to being a SPARK Outreach and Engagement Advisory Board Member, she is the Cultural Responsiveness and Engagement Director for South Carolina Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (SC LEND), the Health Equity Champion for SC chapter of AAP, and serves on the Executive Committee for the national AAP Council on Healthy Mental Emotional Development.