Reward offered for safe return of missing autistic teen in New York By Elizabeth Landers and Jia Guo, CNN October 9, 2013 -- Updated 1936 GMT (0336 HKT) Avonte Oquendo, 14, has been missing since Friday, October 4 after he ran out of his Long Island City school. A law firm puts up a $5,000 reward for Oquendo's return The missing 14-year-old boy cannot communicate verbally Video shows him running out of his school Friday New York (CNN) -- A law firm in New York is offering a $5,000 reward for the safe return of an autistic teen who's been missing since he ran out of his school last week. Police say he is unable to communicate verbally. Mayerson & Associates, a New York-based law firm that represents individuals with autism, is offering the reward for information leading to the safe return of the boy. "We cannot begin to imagine what Avonte's family is going through," the firm said in a statement. Time is of the essence. Gary Mayerson, the founder of the firm, said the status of the search and investigation may lead to the reward money being increased. New York Police Department Sgt. Lee Jones said Wednesday there were no new developments in the case. Earlier this week, Oquendo's mother said the situation is "heartbreaking." "I just need to find my son because he needs his family, he cannot fend for himself out there," Vanessa Fontaine told CNN affiliate WABC. "This is just the hardest thing to have your child disappear, and you cannot bring him home with you," she added. According to the surveillance video provided by the NYPD, no supervisor or monitor stopped the 14-year-old when he ran out. "He is supposed to have one-to-one supervision at all times," Fontaine said through tears. The New York City Department of Education issued a statement saying it was working closely with the police on the investigation. Anyone with information about Oquendo should contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. CNN's Haley Draznin and Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this report