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Boy, 13, with asperger's lost on the NYC subway system for 11 days

Shelley Dillon's photo
Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner
Francisco Hernandez Jr., who has Asperger's syndrome, disappeared after a scolding in school.
Francisco Hernandez Jr., who has Asperger's syndrome, disappeared after a scolding in school.
Photo credit: 
Photo - Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

A 13-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome who was missing in New York City for 11 days says he spent the entire time in the subway system.  Lost in plain sight.

According to an AP article, the boy's mother, Marisela Garcia, feels police were slow to make the case a priority because she's a Mexican immigrant. But police say they contacted the school immediately and leafleted most of the city.

Garcia wants to know how her son went unnoticed for so long despite surveillance cameras and a police search. He has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

Police found Francisco Hernandez Jr. on Oct. 26 in a Coney Island subway station. He says he took refuge in the subway after getting in trouble at school and feared a scolding at home.

He rode trains and used station bathrooms. He says he mostly slept and lived on snacks and water.

Thanks goodness he is ok.

More article by Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner:

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, Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner

A 40-something mom, and a special parent herself, Shelley Dillon focuses on parenting special needs kids, special education issues, advocacy, therapies, specialists, allergies and learning to cope. Freshground@comcast.net.

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