The news of Avonte Oquendo’s death came in a text from a dear friend on a cold Tuesday afternoon. “It was Avonte,” she wrote. My body went numb. No! It could not be. Avonte’s parents sent him to school on October 4th 2013 and they expected him to come home to them. They trusted the Riverview School and the New York City Department of Education to look after him. They put … [Read more...]
Remains Found in Queens Are Matched to Missing Teen Avonte Oquendo
Less than a week ago, body parts were found in the East River in Queens. On Tuesday, DNA testing confirmed that those body parts were identified as missing 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo. Oquendo was last seen walking out of his Long Island City school on October 4th. Since then, his family has been desperately searching for him and praying for his safe return. According to … [Read more...]
Two Weeks Later: The Search for Avonte Oquendo Continues
It has been two long weeks since Avonte Oquendo ran out of the Riverview School in Long Island City, Queens. Can you imagine not knowing where your child is for two weeks? I can’t. Avonte’s disappearance has mobilized the autism community and New York City in a way that can be described in three words: This Is Personal! I know that this is personal for me. I also have a son … [Read more...]
Finding Avonte: How Can We Keep Children With Autism Safe?
At 12:38 pm on Friday, October 4th, surveillance footage shows 14-year old Avonte Oquendo running out of The Riverview School in Long Island City, Queens. Avonte is autistic and nonverbal. What haunts me about this footage is that no one stopped him from leaving. One second we see Avonte running out of the school building and then the next second we see him running down the … [Read more...]