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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon Maison (left in the foreground), 14, and Brian Maison (right in the background), 12, both autistic, walks upstairs to their classroom with their teachers' guidance at QSAC Day School, a school for children with autism.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon walks in the classroom during a class. Knowing that he runs because he doesn't sit, his teacher allows him to take short breaks during the class to prevent him from running outside the classroom.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
In the gym, Brian dashes towards the door. His teacher Jonathan Camacho runs after him. Unlike Brandon, Brian usually runs as a way of seeking attention from his teachers.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
At the age of 12, Brian is already 6'1 tall, taller than his teachers. In order to hold on to him, two teachers, Jordan Freeman and Jonathan Camacho, hold his arms to prevent him from running away.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon(left) and Brian(right) sit in the classroom during a lunch break.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon holds a toy keyboard looking out through a window. He loves listening to the music the toys play.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
The reflection of Brandon on a window in the classroom.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon gets off the school van and runs straight home, while his father and the school van driver's attention is on Brian. School van drops Brandon and Brian at home after school everyday. Their parents usually walk them home holding their hands, because the boys may run off.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon runs upstairs into his room. His mother, Marva Maison, said she didn't carpet the stairs so that she could hear the boys moving from one floor to another.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon closes the curtain of his room and plays with his stuffed animals in bed.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon stands on a chair to check if the keys to the front door are in the kitchen cabinet, but doesn't find them. Mrs. Maison used to hide the keys here, but not anymore, because she noticed that Brandon had figured out where she put the keys.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
The brothers parents, Allen and Marva Maison sit in the living room, discussing their afternoon plan on a Saturday morning. Having helped the boys through their morning routines that morning, Allen Maison is a bit tired.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon sits with the fridge's door open, listening to the music.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brian's mom shows him some old family photos when they are putting them back into a box. Brian likes messiness. He takes out family albums and throws everything out on the floor.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon puts water into the water bottle, pours it all out, and listens to the sound of the water. He does this several times, and his mom watches.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brian and his mother share a moment of love.
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© 2021 Yan Cong
Brandon sits in the back seat with the seatbelt on while his dad was driving the car.
Public Story
Navigating Elopement
Credits:
yan cong
Updated: 07/20/14
For Children with autism, "elopement" refers to the behavior of wandering off from a safe environment. A recent study found that almost half of the children with autism are runners. In the wake of the missing autistic child Avonte Oquendo’s tragic death in New York City, runners’ safety at home and at school becomes an alarming issue.
The Maisons, the family I photographed for this body of work, have two autistic boys, who are both runners. In the past 14 years while raising the brothers, Brandon and Brian, Mr. and Mrs. Maison have experienced four serious wandering incidents, where either boy was missing to the point that caused great concerns at home or at school. With patience, responsibility and love, the parents and the teachers do their best to help the boys navigate autism safe and sound.
