Avonte’s Law lauded at Dyker Heights elementary school
Two Brooklyn councilmembers convened in the rec center of Dyker Heights elementary school P.S. 176 on Friday, November 20 to celebrate the successful and fast-paced installation of audible alarms within every public school across District 20, as part of a citywide effort under Avonte’s Law.
The legislation—signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in August, 2014—aimed to improve school safety in wake of the Avonte Oquendo’s death. Oquendo—an autistic student of the Riverview School in Queens—was just 14 when he exited his school and was never seen alive again.
“With no alarms on the school’s doors, young Avonte was able to simply slip out the door and disappear in silence,” said Councilmember Vincent Gentile. “His mother’s anguish was felt throughout New York City.”