Victoria Hable, a mother from Philadelphia, detailed a distressing event involving her disabled son, Rowen, to Newsweek. Rowen, six years old, lives with Down syndrome, speech apraxia, and autism. His condition affects his verbal communication, requiring him to use various supportive communication methods.
Rowen attends a public school, receiving a mix of special and general education. Despite positive experiences, a traumatic incident on July 16, 2026, with an after-school care facility marked a concerning episode for Victoria.
What Happened?
On the day in question, Victoria was notified by the facility at 4:05 p.m. that Rowen had arrived by bus, operated by a third party. Due to his non-verbal nature, she requested to review transportation footage, which took a month to obtain. Upon review, the situation appeared more severe than she initially thought.
“I was told that Rowen was not in the required five-point safety harness as per his education program. Instead, he was seated elsewhere due to another student occupying his designated spot,” Victoria shared.
The footage revealed Rowen was in a regular seat, frequently releasing his seatbelt, with other children alerting the driver without receiving help. The driver did not seek assistance during the ride.
The video showed Rowen appeared to have fallen asleep unsecured, resulting in him staying on the bus 10 minutes longer than others. He ended up at the back of the bus without shoes.
Victoria is currently pursuing a master’s in social work. She expressed concern seeing Rowen engaging in a game of throwing objects, which turned alarming as repeated pleas for help were ignored.
The Aftermath
Victoria described Rowen as unusually clingy when she picked him up. The delay in obtaining footage was challenging, intensifying her concerns. Consequently, she withdrew him from the after-care program. Now, Rowen uses transportation provided by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, which includes different staff and added safety measures.
Alongside continuing at his elementary school, Victoria aims to restore trust with the district. By sharing her story on Instagram, she hopes to highlight systemic gaps in supporting disabled children.
Victoria remarked, “Parents of disabled children juggle many roles, from advocate to therapist. Our fear is our child getting hurt outside our care. Although Rowen wasn’t physically hurt, the experience exposed safety gaps.”
She emphasized the need for better training and staffing in institutions assisting disabled and autistic students. Despite the incident shaking her trust, she remains hopeful for better cooperation with the district to ensure Rowen’s education and safety.
Victoria encourages parents to champion their children’s needs, while recognizing systemic flaws shouldn’t entirely deter faith in educational support systems.