
British researchers have been following families with autistic children who have a dog and have noticed a positive effect. Continue reading
British researchers have been following families with autistic children who have a dog and have noticed a positive effect. Continue reading
“The whole concept is using reinforcement to encourage children to not only do what they need to do, but to turn an undesirable task into an intrinsically motivating experience that the students want to do”. – Rivky Ismach Continue reading
With Yaakov (age 6), our activity schedule strengthened his independent play skills. Continue reading
14-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Avonte Oquendo, has been missing for 19 days. The search for Avonte has been quite extensive, using infrared cameras, voice-overs of his mother calling out for him, posters, announcements, etc., but to no avail. So what now? The New York Police Department is still continuing to search for the boy, interviewing those who have been previously arrested for abuse of children under the age of 16, and asking for anyone who has any information to speak up. But they are scaling back. Police Commissioner Ray Kelley comments, “
“We’re still devoting a lot of resources to the search. We’ll have to make adjustments as far as the deployment of the amount of resources that we have. We’ll do that some time during the week if we’re unsuccessful. Obviously we ask for the public’s help with any information at all.”[1]
The search team requests that if anyone has ANY information to visit the Crime Stoppers Website, or text the information to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
To conclude our series on steps to follow when dealing with children, especially those with special needs, are our “Lost Child Procedures”
[1] “Gothamist” NYPD may reduce cops searching for missing boy Avonte Oquendo. 22 Oct 2013. Web. < http://gothamist.com/2013/10/22/nypd_may_reduce_cops_searching_for.php>
What would you do if your non-verbal autistic 14-year-old child went missing after running away from school? That’s what happened to Jessica Fontaine, mother of Avonte Oquendo. The search for Avonte has entered its third week, and Fontaine just wants her little boy back. She spoke out on WLNY, pleading for the return of her son.
“If someone has my son, please be kind to him and let him go. Put him in a public place full of people and let him go. Walk away.” [i]
The entire community is dedicated to finding Avonte. Search groups continue to look each day for the teenager, and Fontaine wants her son to know that she loves him, “Mommy loves you, the family is here for you, and we’re going to find you.”
We’ve been providing information on daily procedures to take regarding children with special needs. Most schools go on off-site field trips with their students, and below are some procedures to follow:
[i] “CBS News” Avonte Oquendo’s mother: If you have my son, let him go. 21 Oct 2013. Web. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57608516/avonte-oquendos-mother-if-you-have-my-son-let-him-go/>
Yesterday, Sunday October 20, 2013, family members and members of the community gathered for a search for 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo. Just to recap: Avonte is a non-verbal autistic boy, who was last seen running out of his school in Queens on Friday, October 4th. On Friday we posted some of the daily procedures taken at Shema Kolainu- Hear Our Voices, a school and center for children with autism in partnership with ICare4Autism. Below are some of the bussing and release of children procedures all teachers and staff follow each day:
BUSSING AND RELEASE OF CHILDREN PROCEDURES:
You’ve seen it on the news, you’ve heard about it on the radio, you’ve seen posters put up all over New York City. The search for 14 year old Avonte Oquendo has reached its 2-week mark. Autistic and non-verbal, this boy was last seen running out of his school two weeks ago today.
Police, family members, and the entire community are determined to find the whereabouts of Avonte. As he has a passion for trains, the police department has been searching all train stations, both abandoned and in use, in hopes of success. The search has now spread to surrounding areas of New York. Yesterday, police started using a van that can detect body heat through an infrared camera, in case Avonte was hiding. Police vans are also projecting his mother’s voice over a loud speaker asking him to come toward the vehicle and back home.
School safety among any school is important. School safety at a school for children with special needs…is crucial. Shema Kolainu has a strict list of procedures for teachers and staff to follow each day. Below are some of the daily procedures we follow:
DAILY PROCEDURES FOR CHILD SAFETY
Today, October 15, 2013 at 4:30pm EST, Dr. Weinstein, Founder and CEO of ICare4Autism, Ari Knoll, Esq., Head of Legal Aid of ICare4Autism, Dr. Stephen Shore, Advisory Board Member of ICare4Autism, and Sharie Manon, Director of Strategic Alliances of ICare4Autism will be in a Google Hangout to discuss the recent disappearance of 14-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Avonte Oquendo. The group will address safety procedures that should always be in place for all children, especially those with special needs. The Google Hangout will be moderated by Kathleen B. Tehrani of AutismBrainstorm.
14-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Avonte Oquendo, has been missing since last week.
The New York City Police Department is asking that if ANYONE has any information on Avonte’s whereabouts, to please come forward. Imagine how frightened Avonte must be in a strange location and unable to verbalize his fear.
Avonte’s parents say he loves trains, and the police have checked over 400 train stations, tunnels, abandoned stations and bathrooms for the teenager, but to no avail.
At Chief of Department Phil Banks’ request, if you have any information, call the department’s hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Any information is useful, and every lead will be followed.
Roc Conti, Avonte’s cousin spoke out, “If somebody does have him, release him, because he can’t even tell on you. Write a note, put it in his pocket, write a note on his forehead, send him off.” [i]
There is a substantial reward for information provided on Avonte Oquendo’s current location, but the most important thing is getting this boy home safe to his family.
[i] “ABC News” NYPD asks for help in finding Avonte Oquendo. 14 Oct 2013. Web. < http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9276035>