Boy With Autism Kicked Off Public Bus

His mother says there are very few things that will quiet 11 year old Andre. Riding a bus is one of them.

The bus is calming for him.

So since the age of 4 the boy, who has autism, has been climbing aboard Orange County buses to travel from his Mission Viejo home and back again.

Monday he took a trip with his grandfather, but before it was over the pair say they were told to get off the bus. According to Moises Sanchez, the driver had had enough of Andre's outbursts.

Sanchez says the driver ordered them to get off at Saddleback College, about half a mile from their home.

Sanchez and Andre walked the rest of the way.

"I know that I'm not the only one this has happened to," Sanchez said. "I'm sure it has happened to others."

Andre's mother, Lluvia Carillo, is livid.

She says Andre acts out at times, which can't be controlled, but that she'd never put anyone else in danger.

"He has impulses to where he gets really excited," she said. "Sometimes it's one of us. Sometimes it's the wall."

Orange County Transit Authority officials say their drivers are trained to deal with the disabled and are investigating the incident.

The OCTA released the following statement:

"We are aware of a complaint that was filed Tuesday and are thoroughly investigating what transpired. That process takes time and we will respond to (Carillo) as quickly as possible, as she requested.

"While we can’t discuss the specifics of this complaint until we fully understand the details, we can say that Orange County Transportation Authority cares about all of our customers, serving nearly 1 million bus passengers weekly. The safety and security of our passengers is the top priority for OCTA."

Carillo wants her son to feel safe on the bus as everyone should -- which is why she has filed a formal complaint with the transit authority.

"My son can't express in his own words what he went through," she said. "Anyone out there can advocate and make a difference."

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