Alagoas authorities investigate assault on autistic student

A 14-year-old student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was physically and verbally assaulted by a private school bus driver in the interior of Alagoas, Brazil. The incident occurred while the student was traveling from Tanque d’Arca to a school in Maribondo.

Video footage recorded by a classmate shows the driver engaging in an argument with the teenager before advancing to pull the boy's ear and slap him. The student's family reported that the teenager had previously mentioned instances of abuse by the driver, but they had initially trusted the professional who had provided transport services for ten years.

The victim has reportedly become traumatized, expressing fear and shame regarding returning to school. The school involved clarified that the transport service is a third-party provider contracted directly by parents. The Public Ministry of the State of Alagoas (MPAL) has taken over the investigation to ensure legal consequences for the driver.