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The initial school day is a crucial factor in determining a child’s future academic experience. As a result, it’s imperative to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to ensure a smooth and safe transition for the child.

Unfortunately, for a boy with autism in suburban Palatine, his first day of school took a frightening turn.

Gianni was placed on the wrong Bus.

The young boy, Gianni, 6, was mistakenly placed on the wrong school bus at the end of his school day in Chicago.  In the afternoon, Kelly Murray, the boy’s mother, was left in a state of panic as she waited for her son to get off the bus but never showed up.

Filled with dread and concern, she hurriedly asked for details about the situation and her child’s whereabouts. The driver was unable to offer help; he simply gave her a list of names. He mentioned that he did not know her son’s whereabouts. Nonetheless, he permitted her to get on the bus and look around herself.

Gianni Missing

Kelly searched extensively. After a long search, she was devastated to realize her son was not inside the bus.

Various troubling thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to understand the situation. Was her child possibly kidnapped? Struggling to return? Perhaps it was mistakenly dropped off at the stop?

In an interview, she expresses her disappointment,  “No parent should ever have to endure the anguish and uncertainty that I had to go through.”

Bus Driver identifies Gianni

It turns out the boy had been put on another bus, the wrong bus. Kelly and Gianni were fortunate, as the boy’s bookbag had specific, unique markings that helped the new bus driver identify him and get him back home safely.

Kelly was relieved; however, she remains dissatisfied, especially with the lack of responsibility and communication from both the school and bus company. She has reached out several times to enquire about what went wrong but hasn’t yet received a satisfactory explanation for the confusion. This situation has left her worried about who holds the responsibility for her child’s safety during school transportation.

It has raised concerns regarding communication between schools and transport providers. It’s easy to see why Kelly was shocked by the incident, realizing that her son was nowhere to be found. For us parents, ensuring our kids’ safety and welfare is always our top concern.

Illinois Autism Center

Here, at Illinois Autism Center, we recognize the hurdles that families with children affected by autism encounter every day. This is why we are committed to offering assistance and guidance to families through our ABA therapy initiatives and educational materials.

Each child should have access to a caring setting at school or while commuting.