Although the number of volunteers at the headquarters for missing teen Avonte Oquendo is dwindling and the MTA announcements about his disappearance are more scarce, his family continues to press on. 

It has been more than a month since 14-year-old teen Avonte Oquendo disappeared from Riverview School in Long Island City. His family continues to search for the severely autistic teen, who is nonverbal. The search has expanded into Jersey City, according to the Bring Avonte Home Facebook page. 

WNYC spoke to Daniel Oquendo, Avonte's father, who spends almost every day outside of the school where his son disappeared. He works with volunteers in a small, heated trailer, doing everything from searching Long Island City to handing out fliers in hopes of finding his son. Avonte's mother, siblings and grandparents also visit the trailer daily. 

Duane Bowers, a trauma therapist who is also a consultant to the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, said there's a cycle to families seeking missing children. He said that at first, families believe their child will be found at any moment, then end up living in a dual reality.

"They think in terms of here's what I'm going to do if he's back, here's what I'm going to do if he's not back. Here's what Christmas is going to look like if he's back, here's what it's going to look like if he's not back," he explained.

Avonte's family has joined a long list of other families around the country who are dealing with the ongoing grief of children that never came home. Colleen Nick's daughter, Morgan, was abducted at age six from a Little League game in Alma, Ala., 18 years ago. She was never found. She can understand why Avonte's family has not given up the search.

"A very small percentage come home alive," she said, of missing children. "We all understand that as parents of missing children. But until you can prove to me that my child is not coming home alive, then my fight every day is for her."

Avonte's parents both believe he is somewhere near the school. Daniel Oquendo spoke about the emotional toll his disappearance has taken. 

"It's easy to go into a corner and just give up, but this is something that you have to keep seeing every day and dealing with," he said. "You have to get used to it. You have to grow thick skin."

Daniel said he hopes the case can at least being more attention to the vulnerabilities of autistic children. Many severely autistic children are nonverbal, like Avonte, and have a tendency to wander. 

According to ABC Local news, the reward for information leading to his return is up to $95,000. 

Listen below to hear WNYC's full interview with Daniel Oquendo.