Mother’s Account of Traumatic Incident Involving Her Disabled Son

A mother from Pennsylvania described a disturbing incident her disabled son experienced while under the care of others. Victoria Hable, from Philadelphia, strives to protect her 6-year-old son, Rowen, who has Down syndrome, speech apraxia, and autism. Rowen relies on a communication device, sign language, and gestures to communicate because of speech apraxia.

Rowen attends public school five days a week, participating in both special and general education services. He joins first-grade classes with his neurotypical peers and receives therapy in a life-skills classroom.

Details of the Incident

Despite being thankful for the services provided by Rowen’s school, Victoria reported a “traumatic” event on July 16, 2026, at the after-school care facility. Victoria shared her fears for Rowen’s safety in someone else’s care.

Victoria received a call from the after-school facility at 4:05 p.m. after Rowen arrived by bus. She requested footage to understand what happened due to Rowen’s limited verbal communication. A month later, she viewed the recording and found it more concerning than anticipated.

The footage revealed that Rowen was not in the required five-point safety harness. Instead, he was slumped in a third-row seat. Another student occupied his designated spot. Throughout the bus ride, Rowen frequently unbuckled his seatbelt while other children alerted the driver for help. Several children tried to help him stay seated.

Victoria noted that Rowen became increasingly distressed, and the driver did not request assistance. The hour-long footage showed Rowen asleep by journey’s end, unsecured, remaining on the bus for 10 minutes after others disembarked.

When staff found Rowen, he was asleep without a seatbelt and barefoot. His shoes were left behind on the bus. Newsweek requested a comment from the transport provider about the incident.

Initially, the footage didn’t seem alarming. As Victoria reviewed it, she found Rowen engaged in “throwing objects from his bag” for social interaction, a departure from his routine of not having bag access during transit. The situation escalated as unheeded calls for help were ignored.

Aftermath of the Incident

Upon collecting her son, Victoria found him unusually clingy. Trusting her instincts, she had suspected something troubling occurred. Following the incident, Rowen was removed from the care facility.

He now uses transportation services provided by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, with a different setup including a new vehicle, driver, and transportation aide. His elementary school attendance continues.

Victoria shared her experience on Instagram to raise awareness of challenges faced by families like hers. She expressed concerns about training and staffing for systems supporting disabled students.

Victoria emphasized the importance of parental advocacy for disabled children. Despite the incident, she believes in holding people accountable and restoring trust in the school district to ensure a safe educational environment for Rowen.