[Justin Himmelright]

An article that recently appeared in the Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows News

Mother and autistic child ejected from bus

TransLink has apologized for kicking a woman and her four-year-old autistic son off a bus in Aldergrove after he became disruptive.
A bus driver left Cristina Olson and Ethan standing at the corner of Fraser Highway and 264 Street on Aug. 27 after the boy became excited and disrupted the loaded bus.
"Cristina is beside herself, she feels ashamed," angry grandmother Debbie Olson said after the incident. "People were clapping when she got off."
Ethan has a neurological brain disorder that was diagnosed as autism when he was two-and-a-half years old. He is unable to communicate, other than with involuntary noises, and this communication disorder also shows itself in behaviour problems.
Ethan is receiving assistance from Pivot Point and Langley Child Development Centre, with speech pathologists and other help, and is showing some improvement. Autism Spectrum Disorder has no known causes or cures but there are treatments.
"Ethan thinks it's painful to talk, at best he can get one word out," Debbie said. "But it's probably going to be a lifelong disability. Autism affects one in 125 children in B.C. It's an epidemic."
Cristina and Ethan had boarded the bus shortly after 1 p.m. that day, headed into Langley City. However, when Ethan saw a McDonald's sign, he unbuckled himself from his stroller and began a tirade Cristina recognized was his reaction to the fast food sign.
"Ethan memorizes signs, like 'Transformers' on TV, and McDonald's is one sign that he knows," said Debbie.
The bus driver told Cristina that if she couldn't keep Ethan quiet he would turn them out at the next stop. And to compound the problem, that bus stop was directly in front of the McDonald's.
"The tantrum would probably have been over in no time – Cristina has gone to classes to learn how to calm him down and she told the driver that Ethan is autistic.
"(The bus driver) should have had a little compassion – he didn't even refund her. I don't think they do that even when teenagers are screaming on the bus," Debbie said. "How could he leave a woman on a busy corner, and at that point she couldn't even touch Ethan, he was in such a state? They had to hope they could make it across the street to see me at work (in Save-on Foods), and I helped calm him down and took them home."
Debbie complained to TransLink and was told a supervisor would get back to her.
Since then, TransLink has apologized to the family. A spokesperson asaid the agency will be "speaking to" the driver concerned, as "there is no way any child should be turned out of a bus."
Debbit also expressed her outrage to the Autism Society.
The society has issued a standard business card for caregivers to hand out to persons in the public who complain or express concern about the behaviour. It states, "Thank you for your concern. The individual who has caught your attention has autism. Autism is a communication disorder which can cause behaviour problems. Interference by a stranger can create confusion and worsen the situation. The individual cannot help this behaviour and I am dealing with this person in the most appropriate way. I am sorry I cannot answer your questions at this time. If I ask you to would you please call (phone number)."

By Kurt Langmann
MetroValley News

If you feel like contacting Translink with your opinion on this incident, the contact information is below.

custrel@translink.bc.ca

Translink Customer Relations representatives are available to speak with you from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday at 604-953-3040. You may also reach us by e-mail or by fax at 604-953-3663.

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