BETHPAGE, N.Y. — Alex and Jamie Schneider run seemingly on instinct, saying nothing and drifting into a cone of concentration. They are autistic 22-year-old identical twins from Long Island whose passion is to run for miles at a time. The twins, who are nonverbal and can exhibit severe behaviors like self-injury and
Alex Schneider with Kevin McDermott.
tantrums, have completed more than 120 races, including five marathons and eight half-marathons, over the past seven years.
“They thrive on the repetition and routine of racing,” said their mother, Robyn Schneider. “You finish, get a medal, high-five everyone at the finish line and go home.”