TRAGEDY WRONG TRANSPORT

There was a very sad tragedy in South Carolina where a College girl from NJ got into the wrong vehicle thinking it was her Uber ride but it ended in her cold blooded murder.

Unfortunately, it is very easy for our disabled children to make a mistake and get into the wrong vehicle. It happened to one of my kids waiting for a Van to take them to an Agency program. Many DDD Agency Programs use unmarked vehicles to transport clients.  Often there are different Vans and different Colored Vans that pick up the children.  Schools with Special Ed programs also sometimes transport in unmarked vehicles too.

Parents are not always aware this can happen.  Sometimes we feel our kids are independent enough to get on the Vehicle independently.  We assume they would have good judgment getting into the correct vehicle.  But, they may inadvertently get into the wrong transport vehicle. 

Most of the time it is an honest mistake and it can happen without incident.  But, we have to be extra alert and aware to avoid this mistake in this day and age we live in for our children’s safety.  We have to tell our children to look into the vehicle to see if they recognize who is in the car or van first.

If it is a new driver, it should be questioned and a quick call to the Agency Program would solve the issue.  Asking to be informed when there is a new driver would be pro-active for safety.   If the Agency would not put a minor indicator in the window of the Van or Car, like a small window sticker or even just a taped on paper identifying the Program, they can have the Staff wear badges.  I know several Programs that were unwilling to go that far, but if more parents request it, it can make everyone feel safer.