Maryland Mother Secures Protections for Wandering Autistic Children

New state laws aim to better respond when children with autism or dementia elope from home.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:24pm

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An abstract, softly focused image of a parent and child embracing, conveying a sense of relief and comfort in the wake of a stressful situation involving a wandering incident.A mother's advocacy leads to new state laws aimed at protecting vulnerable children with autism and dementia who wander from home.Annapolis Today

A Maryland mother, Shari Bailey, successfully advocated for two new state laws in Annapolis to protect children with autism and dementia who wander away from home. The laws set up a resource guide for caregivers and train police to respond when someone elopes. Eloping, or running away, is a common incident for people with autism or dementia, and drowning is the leading cause of death for those with autism.

Why it matters

This legislation is a major victory for families caring for children with developmental disabilities in Maryland, providing critical resources and training to help prevent tragic outcomes when a child wanders away from home. Wandering is a serious issue that puts vulnerable individuals at risk, and these new laws aim to improve emergency response and caregiver support.

The details

Bailey, who has twin girls with one daughter Laila having autism, pushed for a package of five bills in Annapolis, with two passing so far. One law sets up a resource guide for caregivers in the state, while the other trains police to respond when someone elopes. The new laws will help protect people who elope from becoming drowning victims, as drowning is the leading cause of death for people with autism.

  • The new laws were passed by the Maryland legislature in 2026.
  • Bailey's daughter Laila eloped at age 6 while Bailey was at work.

The players

Shari Bailey

A Maryland mother who successfully advocated for new state laws to protect children with autism and dementia who wander away from home.

Laila

Bailey's daughter who has autism and is non-verbal, and eloped at age 6.

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What they’re saying

“This is such a huge relief for family caregivers across the state of Maryland, caring for individuals with autism, IDD and any form of dementia, uh, it's particularly, particularly those individuals that are at risk of eloping.”

— Shari Bailey, Maryland Mother

“Your heart stops, you almost feel like the world has stopped moving. You don't know where to go. It's the sense of paralysis that is very difficult to put into words. I know when Laila eloped at 6 years old, I was actually working and I got the phone call and I honestly froze.”

— Shari Bailey, Maryland Mother

What’s next

Bailey aims to get the remaining three pieces of legislation passed next year to further strengthen protections for children with autism and dementia who wander away.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for better resources and emergency response protocols to protect vulnerable individuals with developmental disabilities who are at risk of wandering or eloping from home. The new Maryland laws represent an important step forward in supporting families and keeping children safe.