Challenges of searching for missing LF autistics

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A 14 year old NV autistic boy disappeared in Queens, part of New York City, a week ago. Rather than just post an article saying he's missing, I am posting this link from MSN, detailing the challenges searchers face in finding LF autistics. (Sorry for the LONG link.)

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10 ... snhp&pos=4

Can't talk, doesn't respond to his name, may be hiding in a secluded location, likes the subway, etc.

Yeah. It's always pretty scary when a vulnerable kid gets lost, whether they're 14 and non-verbal or two and neurotypical.

Parents, teachers, etc. are probably the best ones to advise searchers in situations like this, since they know their child best. Police and rescue personnel need to be trained in what to expect with developmentally disabled teens, how best to interact with them to make it easiest for them to communicate.

And everyone needs to remember that people do things for a reason--that if a non-verbal kid is leaving some situation, they are doing that for a reason. It could be as simple as, "I saw something interesting." Or as important as "Someone is hurting me." You can't just dismiss it as "autistic behavior" or "wandering".

He's not the only AS foamer in the world. You figure they'd put out a call to foamers, but no. They take tips from psychics.

NY has the most (in)famous AS foamer in the world sitting in one of their jails right now.

Lots of roach motels in the system he can get stuck in. The East River Pit, Harlem SAS, ESA LL, Nevins underjump, S4 East, to name a few. Foamers know these places. The NT cops don't.

AP:

New York's police commissioner says the school safety officer who was the last person to see an autistic boy before he disappeared 11 days go did nothing wrong.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday the officer encountered Avonte Oquendo (ah-VAHN'-tay oh-KEHN'-doh) at the front door of the Riverside School in Queens and told him to go back upstairs. But he went down the hallway and out through a side door.

He hasn't been seen since. His parents say they are suing the school.

Police have said Avonte was fascinated with trains. Officers searched all subway stations and tunnels and are working with authorities in New Jersey and Long Island in case Avonte got aboard a train leaving the city.

A $70,000 reward is being offered for information on the boy's whereabouts.

New York City is going all out to find an autistic 14-year-old boy who went missing 12 days ago after walking out of his school in Long Island City, Queens.

Fliers warning that Avonte Oquendo has severe austism have gone up all over the city and announcements train conductors are asking the public over loudspeakers to keep an eye out for the boy.

Members of the New York Police Department are looking for the boy via helicopters and they are checking transit and waterways, according to the NYPD press office.

And a website, http://findAvonte.com, has been created and leads to the Facebook page "Bring Avonte Home."

On the page, Avonte's brother issued a statement of thanks to the public.

"On behalf of my family I would love to thank all of you for the tremendous amount of support you have shown us," Danny Oquendo wrote. "You have given us the strength to persevere through these tough times. Thank you for the link sharing, reposting, retweets, flyer distribution, donations, and searching. Together we WILL #FindAvonte."

The family has reached out for help to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who announced on Thursday that the boy's mother, father and brother would join him at the Harlem headquarters of his National Action Network, as members of the organization pledge to canvas New York to find Avonte.

Wandering is an issue among people with autism, according to the AWAARE (Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education) Collaboration. About half of children with autism try to escape from a safe environment, the organization reports.

"There are various reasons someone with autism may wander," according to the organization. "More often than not, he'she will wander to something of interest, especially water, or away from something that is bothersome, such as uncomfortable noise or bright lights."

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said that the NYPD has expanded its search for the boy beyond New York City and that he may have taken a train to New Jersey or someplace even further, CBS News reports.

Family members say Avonte is non-verbal and has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old.

A $70,000 reward is being offered for information on Avonte's whereabouts.

The boy is described as 5-foot-3 and 125 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a gray striped shirt and black jeans.