When Jacob O’Brien’s eighth-grade class began planning their end-of-year trip to Quebec City, one thing was certain: they wouldn’t go without him.
Jacob, who lives with a medical condition that affects his physical development, faced barriers that could have excluded him from joining his classmates on the 10-hour journey. But his peers at Grand-Barachois School were determined not to let that happen — and their unity sparked a ripple effect that reached one of Canada’s largest motorcoach operators.
Coach Atlantic, upon learning about Jacob’s situation, made a bold move: it ordered a brand-new, fully wheelchair-accessible Prevost coach to ensure Jacob could travel with his friends.
“When we heard this story, that the students didn’t want to go on the trip if Jacob couldn’t go too, like everyone else, the decision was very easy to make,” says Matthew Cassidy, president of Coach Atlantic. “Jacob deserves to be on the bus, make the 10-hour drive to Quebec City, and eat all the sweets and chips he wants with all the other students.”
The specially equipped coach, now affectionately known as “Jacob’s bus” — unit No. 2527 — is Coach Atlantic’s first wheelchair-accessible long-distance coach. While the company has operated smaller vehicles for passengers with reduced mobility, Cassidy says those aren’t suited for extended trips.
“This is a first for us, but it certainly won’t be the last,” Cassidy says, adding that he hopes the coach will serve other schools and groups in similar situations.
Class bond wouldn’t be broken
The milestone moment was celebrated in Quebec City, where staff from Prevost, the Quebec-based bus manufacturer, met Jacob and his classmates. To mark the occasion, they presented gifts to the students and underscored the importance of accessibility in group transportation.
“For us, it was important not only to mark young Jacob’s passage through Quebec City, but also to remind people of the importance of paratransit by coach,” says Guillaume Charron, Prevost’s Vice President of Retail Operations and Sales. “Every year, we sell over 180 adapted coaches in North America.”
The celebration was more than symbolic. It was the result of community action including fundraising, corporate responsiveness, and the unwavering support of 25 students who had grown up with Jacob — and who refused to imagine this milestone trip without him.
Since kindergarten, the classmates have shown a strong bond. As the trip neared, they let school leaders know there would be no compromise: Jacob was part of the group.
That loyalty moved teachers and administrators to seek a solution. Working with local supporters, they reached out to Coach Atlantic, which acted immediately.
The result was more than a transportation fix. It became a celebration of inclusion and advocacy — not only for Jacob and his family, but for future students with mobility challenges.
Jacob’s parents expressed gratitude for the efforts of everyone involved, from classmates and teachers to Coach Atlantic and Prevost.
“This trip meant the world to Jacob,” one of his parents shared. “He got to be with his friends, just like everyone else. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for him.”
The story, which has gained attention across Canada, highlights how a simple act of compassion can spark larger change. For Jacob and the eighth-grade class of Grand-Barachois School, the bus ride to Quebec wasn’t just a school trip — it was a victory shared by an entire community.
As Cassidy puts it: “Bus No. 2527 will forever be Jacob’s bus.”
