Help I’m not sure what to do to keep my daughter safe outdoors anymore

[Mummyof5kiddos]

Please does anyone have any suggestions on how I can keep my daughter safe while outside of the house? She is nearly 4 and while outside she will either walk fast or runs extremely fast that I can’t keep up with her ( she has run out of sight far to many times especially this last week it being the summer holidays ) she isn’t concerned that I’m not with her when I finally get to her and I really worry that she’s going to get into danger or get lost. She is very sociable and will go up and talk or walk away with any stranger, join in with other families, she becomes obsessive with people and won’t leave them alone, but she also very sensory to touch which makes it hard because she will sit and have many meltdowns while we are out from needing to touch her to keep her safe. She gets physical and will hurt adults and children when triggered. I find that even if it’s really hot outside she won’t sit down at all she is constantly on the go and doesn’t slow down, she’s spins a lot and this seems to be becoming more and more at home and outside of the home. Her first paediatrician appointment has recently been cancelled and I’m waiting for a new appointment to come, I felt this may have been the start of actually getting some help for her but now I feel deflated of having to wait all over again. I’ve brought lockable wrist reins and she just sits there screaming pulling at them, sometimes she manages to take them off and sometimes she’s getting that distress that she’s hurting herself, I’ve recently brought a AirTag just incase to be able to track her if she goes missing, the only last option I can think about is getting a sen buggy, she is the size of a 6 year old so her old buggy is now to small, I think she will have constant meltdown and escape the buggy but she will be safer. So maybe extra security in the buggy somehow? But have also been looking at wagons but that will be the same reaction from her as a buggy. I just don’t know what else to do. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Do you get DLA? or have a blue badge? We have had to limit what we do outdoors as DD can no longer be carried (7).

She gets Dla middle rate, I was going to do a MR because I think she should qualify for high rate mobility and high rate care but I don’t have the evidence because she’s not been seen by anyone yet, her renewal and mobility for turning 5 should be about the same time so I’m hoping with evidence by then she should get higher rates. We really could do with a blue badge, my LA won’t accept us having one unless she has high mobility unfortunately. I’m thinking we are probably going to have to limit places we visit for her safety, we have a son 8 who is adhd / asd aswell so we only go out when we can provide 1-1 with them both, but it seem like my daughter needs more than 1 person to just watch her. Has your daughter improved when outdoors at all or has she stayed the same since a young age?

DD got awarded middle rate care and no mobility before her ASD diagnosis, I done MR and she got awarded High rate mobility- for being virtually unable to walk considering distance, speed, manner and time without severe discomfort. DS(10) is also ASD. The blue badge has been a life saver when getting about with DD or both children. As she's aged we notice sooner before she bolts/hides or things go wrong and also what helps her to regulate in those situations. Her speech has also improved a little she will sometimes express that she is scared. We have to make adjustments I rarely go put with both alone. I will also say if you haven't already have a look at your local offer DC's may qualify for short breaks funding through a disabled children's assessment.

That is good to know, I’m hoping with time I will start to understand her needs more, I keep thinking oh she will grow out of this or she will get easier but she’s actually getting worse now. I think you are right though with limiting places we go, it’s just not worth the risk, I find soft play and small fenced parks are pretty much the only places which are safe enough to take them together. I hope I can’t get a blue badge in a years time, it would be a huge help, even trying to get out the car sometimes is a struggle, I try to guard her from escaping while I shut the door but she still finds ways to escape and runs across the carpark. She doesn’t understand and isn’t aware of dangers. I haven’t heard of that but I will have a look thank you ☺️

Would reins with a chest harness work better than wrist reins? If not, I would get a buggy or wheelchair with straps she can’t undo. You could ask for a referral to wheelchair services. Also, appeal the blue badge refusal.