My son, Izaak, was kicked off the bus today. A little background: Izaak is eight years old and is autistic. He has been attending the Autism Summer Camp and was with that group today when the incident with Metro Transit happened. He was screaming. A little more background: Izaak’s screams can be an unsettling, almost supernatural experience. They are also loud – they are so, so loud. The driver of the bus, understandably, seemed to get a little rattled. Less understandable was the driver’s reaction, which was to stop the bus and order that kid off it.
The child has autism, it was explained to the driver, lest the sea of bright red shirts with the clear white lettering reading AUTISM SUMMER CAMP in CAPS on both the front and back was insufficient, let us have a moment to calm him down.
Get him off my bus, it was explained to the camp counsellors. I wasn’t there, so I am avoiding direct quotes and relaying the gist as it was relayed to me. The upshot was that Izaak was removed from the bus – his amazing and dedicated counsellor and the (if possible) even more amazing camp director at his sides. Almost as soon as the bus began moving – the rest of the kids and their (what must have been bewidered) counsellors still on it – one of the counsellors realized that with the director off the bus, keys with him, when they actually got back to the camp location nobody would be able to get in. They had to get off the bus, too, and – even after explaining this to the driver, he refused to give them the necessary transfers so that the thirty or so of them could catch the next bus for free.
This is neurodiversity and tolerance – Metro Transit style. Kids with autism aren’t ‘disabled’ enough to use the access-a-bus, but they are too ‘disabled’ to be tolerated by drivers of the standard buses. The blind can ride the bus for free, but some kids with autism not at all? For the record, I have no problem with blind people riding the bus for free (I think everybody should be able to do so), but I can’t accept a special rule, driver-imposed, targeting my son directly and others like him.
In the end, the next bus driver let the whole camp on and didn’t demand the transfers. He knew the camp, the kids, the counsellors. He liked them, besides. the issue was rightly brought to Metro Transit’s attention by the camp director, a file number assigned and an investigation pending.
New details to come, but I have just discovered that CBC is on its way over for interviews so I have to clean up. I’ll keep you posted.
Posted by J. Jones on August 27, 2009 at 1:15 am
Blah, blah…..
Man, the crap transit drivers must have to go threw!
My 2 cents.
Posted by David Croft on August 27, 2009 at 7:24 am
Yes, J. Jones – the crap they must have to go through. The crying babies, the screaming autistic kids – it’s almost as if they have a job in the public, serving the public, paid for by the public. If bus drivers do not want to go through this crap, as you call it, they should absolutely feel free to pursue a different line of work. In the meantime, they had damned well better let my kid ride the bus.
Posted by springingtiger on August 27, 2009 at 8:39 am
Screaming kids can be annoying but if I was penalised for my annoying behaviours I might not be able to get around as I liked either so I won’t complain. Anyway why is it all right for a kid in a pram to scream but not an autistic kid? We all have things we can’t help doing, some of them upset others so we all need a little tolerance and a little toleration.
Posted by alexmaine on August 27, 2009 at 8:44 am
This may seem like a random question but your son wasnt up by chocolate lake yesterday was he? I seen several ppl wearing red shirts and was unaware it was an autism group and i must say i was a little startled by the screaming of one child accompanied by two adults. Excuse my ignorance i didn’t know. I certainly think that the driver should have been more understanding. Especially if he knew your sons condition.
Posted by Dan A on August 27, 2009 at 8:52 am
I’ve been there myself. My son has Asberger’s. More than once I’ve had to drag him from the Superstore screaming. Fortunately one of the managers and couple of the cashiers have autistic kids so it doesn’t really phase them. Sounds like this driver needs to go to school and learn a thing or two about autism. Too many people still seem to think that kids with autism are just being bratty and need a slap to straighten them out.
Posted by Dan A on August 27, 2009 at 8:54 am
PS I’ll follow this story with interest. Best of luck.
Posted by Susan LeFort on August 27, 2009 at 9:45 am
that is terrible, while many of the metro transit drivers are wonderful at their jobs, I have certainly encounter those whom seem to hate the public and their jobs….which seems unfortunate given the rate of pay and benefits for the positions….I think of the Tims or Mcdonalds staff…public facing jobs low pay …and still a nice friendly disposition
Posted by Paige on August 27, 2009 at 9:47 am
This is horrible! I am very sorry that your son – and the other children, councillors and camp director – had to go through this situation during what should have been a fun adventure for them all. It’s sad that in todays world there are still people who are ignorant to the needs of other people around them. I understand that the driver may have been shaken by the noise but the reaction was, obviouslly, unacceptable. I hope that your son’s experience with this driver will not negatively impact the rest of his time with camp.
Posted by JYoung on August 27, 2009 at 9:47 am
There are numerous accounts of unknowing people reacting negatively to the outbursts of children with autism. As it is not possible to know exactly what transpired on the bus it is difficult to fault the driver for his actions or to condem him for a deplorable act. Unfortunatly, based on the many media accounts of questionable actions by drivers over the last year or so, most will rush to condem.
All incidents of the general public reacting negatively to the outbursts of children with autism are based on a lack of understanding of the disorder. The prolonged screaming and violent outbursts by and large are an attempt by someone who cannot otherwise communicate to express displeasure, anxiety, frustration, over or under stimulation or a variety of other stimuli. You and I can articulate our needs. These children cannot. An eight year old with autism is using the only tool available to them to express displeasure- screaming. The driver cannot be expected to know the signs and symptoms of an autism- generated meltdown. As such, he or she is in no better a position to react than anyone else. HOWEVER, the immediate circumstances- a group of summer camp children, each, likely supported by a 1:1 aid all clearly distinguished by t-shirts identifying them, should have been given the benifet of the doubt. The situation should have been resolved in a completely different manner. This is wrong. The parents of this child have enough on their plate. The anxiety associated with having to endure autism in the home is more than most of the general public will ever have to endure. If you have not lived with the disorder in your home you will not understand. If you have friends or other family members with children with autism you still will not understand what parents and siblings endure 24-7. Parents who are fortunate enough to have secured a spot for their child in this camp more than likely breathed a heavy sigh of relief. They entered the summer safe in the fact that their child would receive structure, compassion and understanding in an environment of tolerance. To have received word that your child was kicked off our public transportation system must have been heartbreaking and humiliating. I was brought to tears myself. Yes, I have a child with autism. Yes I have endured situations of a similiar nature over the years. My child has been discreetly or blatantly excluded form many opportunities due to the way she presents. It is agonizing. Unfortunately it goes with the territory, but I can assure you it is something that you never get used to. You gradually move from indignation and attemting to explain things to saving your strength for the next battle, be it with a bus driver, a day care director, a principal, a frowning shopper behind you in line at the checkoput watching your child.
I ask the parents of this child to follow up on this appaling incident , even if to simply educate the next bus driver or lifeguard or cashier that things cannot always be taken at face value. I know these parents will go home and hug their child and strenghten their resolve to better their child’s life.
Posted by Molytail on August 27, 2009 at 9:50 am
As a mother of a child who is autistic ~ among other things ~ stories like these make me very angry.
I don’t expect the transit drivers to be thoroughly educated in all the various ways that autism can present itself, and I can understand the driver being confused, concerned, frustrated, etc when this began ~ however, the driver was then made aware that your child had a disability (forget the shirts) by the adults in charge and told that they could calm him. They should have been given the opportunity to do so ~ not shoved off the bus as if he was intentionally causing a problem.
(Refusing the transfers to the group afterward was just plain mean spirited)
Kudos to the second driver who picked up the group and helped them out! Glad to hear that there will be an investigation into the first driver’s conduct. I don’t actually want to see the man lose his job – that would just lead to an individual walking around out there who is angry with everything autism related. What I’d like to see is that the driver (in fact, all drivers) receive some training in working with members of the public who have disabilities. Educate them ~ I’m not talking about sending them through a college program or anything, I’m just talking about some basic information with some guidance as to how they should respond to situations such as this one.
Meanwhile ~ I hope your son is okay, and I’m very sorry that this happened.
Posted by Ted on August 27, 2009 at 9:52 am
Dave – congrats for doing such a great job on the radio this morning – you had some great points and helpful suggestions to Metro Transit that we could all apply to our daily routines. Well done.
Posted by Matt Johnson on August 30, 2009 at 10:56 am
Why does it matter that the kid has autism? Anyone screaming who asked to stop and doesn’t needs to be off the bus.
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