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‘Pissed is an understatement’ | 8-year-old with autism stuck on DC school bus for hours

The 8-year-old's grandmother said she feared the worst while her grandson, who has autism, sat scared on a bus for 4 hours.
The 8-year-old's grandmother said she feared the worst while her grandson, who has autism, sat scared on a bus for 4 hours.

WASHINGTON -- A D.C. family is ticked off after a special-needs child seemed to disappear after school on Friday.

The 8-year-old’s grandmother said she feared the worst while her grandson, who has autism, sat scared on a bus for 4 hours.

“Pissed is an understatement for this,” Teresa Holloway said. “Pissed is an understatement for this.”

Holloway had no idea what happened to her grandson after he left Langley Elementary School on Friday.

A school bus typically gets Kevin Ekoh home by 4:00 p.m., but his grandmother called the city when she did not see him by 5:00 p.m.

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It seemed like every few minutes the story changed about where Kevin was located, according to Holloway.

Most kids who go to school in D.C. catch public transportation to get to class, but this case is a different.

This city only provides busses to students with disabilities, and Kevin is living with autism.

Kevin’s aunt, LaWanna Holloway, said, “I was just heartbroken and speechless because the worst runs through your mind when it’s been so many hours and everybody is saying – no. It was this person, it was that person, but he was on the bus, but he’s not on the bus. So, it’s like we are is he?

Family members went to the school and called Kevin’s teacher.

“She said I get off at 3:15. You have to call the special education coordinator or the principal. I get off at 3:15. This is not my job,” LaWanna Holloway recalled.

Eventually, the family dialed 911 and filed a police report that stated Kevin was put on the wrong bus.

DC Public Schools had a different story.

A spokesperson person said that the staff at Langley ES actually put Kevin on the right bus, but the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) merged bus routes that day and that is the reason he got home so late.

The family said the problem is that no one told them about the change.

“No one never reached out to us — not the principal, not OSSE, not to the school superintendent,” Teresa Holloway said. “Not nobody.”

OSSEE is responsible for the buses, but no one returned our phone calls or emails requesting information on Monday.

DCPS said the bus dropped Kevin off at home at 6:00 p.m., but Holloway said he arrived at 7:00 p.m.

“4 hours? That’s from here to New York. So, he’s been all around the city,” Teresa Holloway said.

Kevin’s family said DCPS and OSSE dropped the ball with caring for their child who lives with autism, and they want to see those responsible held accountable.

There are still questions swirling surrounding this incident, and WUSA9 is continuing to push for answers.

Holloway explained she does not feel safe sending her grandson back to school or putting him back on the bus.

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