In a troubling incident that has left a Chicago mother demanding answers, a 4-year-old child with autism was reportedly left outside in the cold by a school bus driver. The young boy, Choice Sykes, was dropped off after school but found himself waiting in winter’s chill for approximately 45 minutes.

Choice’s mother, Rashia Pickett, expressed her deep concern over the situation, questioning how such an oversight could occur. She believes that if a parent or guardian is not present at the drop-off, the school bus protocol should ensure that the child is returned safely to the school.

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Normally, Choice, who attends pre-kindergarten at James Thorp Elementary, is dropped off by the school bus directly outside their residence in the South Chicago neighborhood, near 91st and Burley. This routine drop-off, however, went awry, leaving Pickett searching for answers to prevent future incidents.

Despite the ordeal, Choice was seen smiling hours later, a testament to his resilience. Yet, for Pickett, the incident raises serious questions about the safety and accountability measures in place for young students, particularly those with special needs.

Usually, Pickett says her son, a pre-kindergartener at James Thorp Elementary, is dropped off by the school bus right outside their home near 91st and Burley in the South Chicago neighborhood.

“There’s a bus aide that lets him out, walks him to the door,” Pickett said. “I greet her. It’s a normal routine for us.”

But on Wednesday, his mother says plans were changed.

“I knew I was going to be a little late picking him up from school, so I called the school about 1 o’clock, 1:18 to be exact, let them know do not put him in the bus and that I will have my eighth grader walk him home,” Pickett said. “When he got there to his class, they said he was already on the bus… I get a call from my neighbor, letting me know that my son is outside hysterically crying.”

Pickett says she rushed home and found her son unharmed in their hallway after her neighbor let him in to get warm.

“Entrusting someone with your child is already hard,” Pickett said. “Entrusting them with your disabled child, special needs child, is even more harder. And that trust has been violated, today.”

ABC7 has reached to Chicago Public Schools to learn the protocol when a parent isn’t at home during drop-off. ABC7 also reached out to the bus company for comment but have yet to hear back.