Sen. Schumer to Propose ‘Avonte’s Law’ to Track Children with Autism
Published at
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is set to propose “Avonte’s Law,” a piece of legislation aimed at preventing incidents like the tragic death of autistic New York teen Avonte Oquendo.
Schumer’s proposal calls for tracking devices to be used to keep tabs on children with autism, similar to a federal program that tracks those individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. According to ABC News’ New York affiliate WABC-TV, the tracking device could be placed in a wristband, on a child’s belt loops, in their shoelaces or sown into clothing.
Oquendo, 14, disappeared from his school in Queens on Oct. 4, 2013. Surveillance video showed the teen leaving the school and no one stopping him.
Oquendo’s photo was posted in subway stations around New York City, and an exhaustive search was launched for him. Earlier this month, human remains were found on a beach in Queens that were later identified as Oquendo’s.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio