FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com NOVEMBER 14, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 AUTISM EXPERT SAYS THERE’S HOPE TO FIND AVONTE BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Close to six weeks have passed and although Avonte Oquendo’s whereabouts are still unknown, the search continues as hope in fi nding the autistic teen remains strong. Avonte, 14, was last seen at the Center Boulevard School at 1-50 51st Avenue in Long Island City around 12:38 p.m. on Friday, October 4. There have been confl icting reports on how the Rego Park teen, who cannot verbally communicate and is supposed to be supervised at all times, managed to leave the school. The NYPD and volunteers have been searching daily for the boy, whose family says loves trains. Police have searched for him by helicopter, with divers, and in patrol cars and search vans with loudspeakers echoing Avonte’s mother’s calls. The command center for volunteers and family searching for the boy is now operating out of an RV located on the side of The Riverview School on Borden Avenue and Center Boulevard. A plane with a banner reading “Bring Avonte Oquendo Home 1-800-577- TIPS” fl ew over Queens and Manhattan on Sunday, November 10 in an effort to help fi nd the teen. A volunteer pilot fl ew the banner over the two boroughs for an hour, according to the Bring Avonte Home Facebook page. According to Andrew Baumann, president and CEO of New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC), this is not an isolated case. Children with autism are prone to running and throughout the country there have been many cases of children disappearing, he said. “I don’t believe that anyone should give up hope on fi nding Avonte alive and in good condition,” Baumann said. “I don’t believe in giving up, these kids are really resilient.” Baumann also said the teen’s family had no control over what happened because they trusted the school to take responsibility. He believes school security agents should hold back any child attempting to leave and report the incident to the principal. “I don’t care how old the child is, no child should ever be allowed to walk out of the school during the school day,” Baumann said. Last week Senator Charles Schumer called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to both create and fund a program which would provide voluntary tracking devices for children with autism or other developmental disorders. According to Baumann, these devices would and do work great, but there should be ways to make sure they are 100 percent effective and cannot be removed if the child were to take off their clothes. “Now we need people to take action, if they see him they should stay with him until the police come,” said Baumann. “The reward is nothing. It shouldn’t be about the money and the reward, it THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre should be about doing the right thing.” If anyone sees Avonte, they should follow him and keep him within eye contact and call 9-1-1, said Baumann. Since Avonte went missing, the reward to fi nd him has increased to $95,000. Avonte was last seen wearing a gray striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. He is 5’3” tall and weighs 125 pounds. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. With additional reporting by Cristabelle Tumola Great rates like these don’t grow on trees. 24-Month CD 1.20APY % APY * $5,000 minimum deposit 48-Month CD .65APY * $5,000 minimum deposit 1.65% 1.30%36-Month CD APY * $5,000 minimum deposit * New Accounts and new money only. APY effective October 17, 2013. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. IRAs are not eligible. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more information. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, rates like these won’t last forever. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com.
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