Nationwide — Deshaunte Smith, an African-American father from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, says a city bus driver discriminated against his son, who is a wheelchair user, by refusing them service. He shared the encounter on TikTok and is now considering legal action.
Smith said he decided to take a Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus one morning when his son, DJ, missed his usual school bus. He used Google to track routes and selected one that would stop close to the school.
When another bus arrived, Smith asked the driver if her route passed near their destination. She said yes, but after noticing DJ’s wheelchair, she added, “Oh, y’all going to make me late.” Smith said she then closed the door and refused to let them board, he told TMJ4.
Because the bus was stuck at a red light, Smith and his son remained standing outside in full view of the passengers. The driver eventually reopened the door to ask again about their stop, but Smith declined and said they would wait for the next bus.
At that moment, he said his son “realized he was being discriminated against in that instant.”
The next bus driver treated them differently. He welcomed them on board, apologized on behalf of his colleague, and explained that drivers are required to lower the ramp and properly secure passengers in wheelchairs.
Smith later said the incident left him embarrassed and upset, adding that families with disabled children are often treated like burdens. He is now working with an attorney to determine whether the bus driver’s actions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On September 15, MCTS confirmed it is investigating the complaint. In a statement, the agency emphasized its commitment to serving all riders, especially those with disabilities, but did not say whether the driver involved faced disciplinary measures.
Smith said the incident was painful not just for him but for his son. “At that point, the damage had already been done because as a parent with a disabled child, like one of my pet peeves is when people act like it’s a problem or it’s an irritance for us to do normal s*** like getting on a bus,” Smith said. “Just be accommodating, or just give grace at least. It shouldn’t be that hard.”