Re: school bus issues

[Guest guest]

contact the superintendant of schools immediately. Even though the bus

companies usually are a " private " business...there is a contract signed between

school district and bus comany and there is a relationship between the two at

the top dogs. Your job is to protect your son and let him know that you will

make this situation right for him. You are going with your gut and in my

experience, a parent's gut reaction is usually right on the money. Explain to

your son that he won't be going back on a school bus with the other shrieking

child again and that you are working to fix the problem. I just don't do

the bus anymore with my own child. I am very lucky to have such a flexible job

that I can drop him off and pick him up...I know not everyone has that kind

of opportunity. I don't do the bus, not because I'm at all worried about my

son and his behavior, but I worry about the behavior of others and I just

personally don't feel it is worth the risk of what harm could be done to my

child who already has an extreme anxiety disorder. Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Unfortunately, I have had transportation issues. You can have his

transportation needs added to his IEP. Some teachers/directors will

even have it take effect right away, and the transportation dept has

to comply. So I would start there. Good luck, I would like to know

how this one turns out.

Theresa H.

>

> My three year old goes to the early intervention preschool thru

> the public school. He rides the bus to and from, and they're

> required to provide that transportation. He's been doing this since

> January with no problems, until today, when they changed his bus.

The

> new driver is great, however, there is a child on the bus who

screams

> and shrieks (not crying, screaming/shrieking) the majority of the

ride

> (an older child). My son is very sound sensitive and apparently

> became hysterical, sobbing, shaking, etc. and cried in fear the

entire

> way home until the child got off the bus. The bus driver was very

> upset and told me he reported it, they need to transfer my son or

the

> other child from the bus, etc. It's not fair, etc. I'm so upset

that

> this happened to my kid I can't even express it. It was made worse

> because he's strapped in a seat and unable to get any comfort while

he

> was terrified and upset which probably made him more hysterical.

>

> I called transportation and talked to someone there via voice mail,

> who called me back and said it was a " new " behavior for that child,

> which is not true as the bus driver told me he's been doing it for

> eons.

>

> My son was just traumatized by this bus ride (which is about an hour

> long!) and spent the night telling me he's never riding the bus,

he's

> not going to school anymore, he made him cry, Snakey (his stuffed

> " friend " ) was scared, etc. This is a child who loves school and the

> bus even more. I have NO intention of putting him back on the bus

> with this child. When I got the return call from transportation

> (voice mail) they said they were going to give the other child

> something to look at so he wouldn't scream and hopefully that would

> solve it.

>

> I'm sitting here thinking, uh, sorry, but I'm not going to put my

kid

> on the bus to TEST that theory and further traumatize him and make

him

> afraid to ever get on a bus again. I have a feeling they're going

to

> fight the change to a new route as they pulled him from the old

route

> because it was a better fit for them time wise.

>

> Have any of you dealt with bus issues? I mean they can't actually

> THINK that they can put a child on a bus who has been documented as

> sound sensitive with a child who shrieks ear piercing screams the

> whole ride and think that's ok can they? I already pitched a fit

> today but any other suggestions or info on our rights with this? My

> son's first day of school the fire alarm went off and it took him

> weeks to feel safe, get over the noise the alarm makes, etc. He was

> finally feeling really safe and good about school, doing well, etc.

> and now this.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

You can request that he be transported via taxi if the bus situation is

untenable for him. Just because they're giving him free transport doesn't mean

that he can be tortured in the process. And actually, it sounds like the other

student is the one that needs the isolated transport. But, the legal

requirements vary from state to state...try to find an advocate in your district

to help you out.

My son has had to deal with numerous problems on the bus, and until this year,

hasn't been given " special Transport " consideration. He has aspergers & wasn't

diagnosed until his 5th grade year. I spend most of my time taking him to school

myself before that. Then they put him in a self-contained class in a distant

school, so he got on the special ed bus & his bus issues stopped. Then, when he

graduated to the Middle School, he was reassigned to the overcrowded " normal "

bus route (putting 3 middleschoolers in each seat) it was too much for

him...dissoving him into violent opposition, nasty language, threats, etc. He

was assigned 5 days out-of-school suspension & it finally got through my head to

ask him why he had acted that way (I can be sooooo dense sometimes) He said it

was just too much everything...the kids smelled funny & made too much noise &

the list went on.....after listening to him, I wouldn't have been able to handle

that ride, & can't imagine how he managed it

for this long.

It took 5 weeks to convince the district that for him, transportation had to

be included in his IEP...not that he needed to be strapped in or had a wheel

chair, but because it had now caused problems in his learning ability....

So, that went well, until the new bus driver took over & her arrival at our

door can vary as much as 45 minutes....that's been a whole new battle, that I

think we've finally managed to win....she had been honking her horn the moment

she pulled up to the house (signalling him that she was impatient & needed him

out of the house NOW--at least in his mind) so, when she'd get there early &

honk " just to let us know she's there " he's frantically chugging his milk &

running out the door crying because he's late...OR..he's pacing the drive

waiting for her...getting more & more agitated that something happened to her &

his friends on the bus...

We've gotten the company to make sure that she doesn't honk before her

scheduled pick-up time...if he's ready, he'll be out, if not, she can

wait....and if she's going to be more than 3 minutes late, that she calls in ( &

they call us) to let us know...

<oldtintype@...> wrote:

My three year old goes to the early intervention preschool thru

the public school. He rides the bus to and from, and they're

required to provide that transportation. He's been doing this since

January with no problems, until today, when they changed his bus. The

new driver is great, however, there is a child on the bus who screams

and shrieks (not crying, screaming/shrieking) the majority of the ride

(an older child). My son is very sound sensitive and apparently

became hysterical, sobbing, shaking, etc. and cried in fear the entire

way home until the child got off the bus. The bus driver was very

upset and told me he reported it, they need to transfer my son or the

other child from the bus, etc. It's not fair, etc. I'm so upset that

this happened to my kid I can't even express it. It was made worse

because he's strapped in a seat and unable to get any comfort while he

was terrified and upset which probably made him more hysterical.

I called transportation and talked to someone there via voice mail,

who called me back and said it was a " new " behavior for that child,

which is not true as the bus driver told me he's been doing it for

eons.

My son was just traumatized by this bus ride (which is about an hour

long!) and spent the night telling me he's never riding the bus, he's

not going to school anymore, he made him cry, Snakey (his stuffed

" friend " ) was scared, etc. This is a child who loves school and the

bus even more. I have NO intention of putting him back on the bus

with this child. When I got the return call from transportation

(voice mail) they said they were going to give the other child

something to look at so he wouldn't scream and hopefully that would

solve it.

I'm sitting here thinking, uh, sorry, but I'm not going to put my kid

on the bus to TEST that theory and further traumatize him and make him

afraid to ever get on a bus again. I have a feeling they're going to

fight the change to a new route as they pulled him from the old route

because it was a better fit for them time wise.

Have any of you dealt with bus issues? I mean they can't actually

THINK that they can put a child on a bus who has been documented as

sound sensitive with a child who shrieks ear piercing screams the

whole ride and think that's ok can they? I already pitched a fit

today but any other suggestions or info on our rights with this? My

son's first day of school the fire alarm went off and it took him

weeks to feel safe, get over the noise the alarm makes, etc. He was

finally feeling really safe and good about school, doing well, etc.

and now this.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

I'm sorry I don't have any good info to give you on your problem with the bus

and all. I'm sure one of the activists in this group can help. However, I was

interested when you mentioned you diagnosis of SMA 3- I was also diagnosed SMA

3- It seems to me most of the members of this group are SMA 2. I was wondering

if you would mind sharing some of your specifics with me. I thought I could

compare my symptoms with yours. My diagnosis seems questionable. Thanks so

much.-

Peace to You,

Beth

school bus issues

Does any one know of any laws pertaining to school buses. I have SMA 3

and a perminent injury to my arm from work that keeps me from being

able to move my manual wheelchair around, my insuarance said they

can't get me a power chair for another three years. My five year old

is starting school this year and the school promised me since last May

thst they were going to pick Max up at our home, today they decided

that they aren't going to do it and they want to pick him up two

streets over off from a main road where I can't see him and the

traffic goes 50 miles an hour. I can't get out of the house at all or

have any one that can help since my husband goes to work at 5am. I

have till the 30th when he starts school to figure out what to do,

does any one have any sugestions? Anything would be helpfull. Thanks,

Tammy

[Guest guest]

What about a local TV station or Newspaper? Not sure if you want the

focus on you, but maybe if they bring the situation to light, someone

will be able to solve the problem. Actually it sounded like they were

going to solve it by picking him up at your home, that's really all

that needs to be changed.

>

> Does any one know of any laws pertaining to school buses. I have SMA 3

> and a perminent injury to my arm from work that keeps me from being

> able to move my manual wheelchair around, my insuarance said they

> can't get me a power chair for another three years. My five year old

> is starting school this year and the school promised me since last May

> thst they were going to pick Max up at our home, today they decided

> that they aren't going to do it and they want to pick him up two

> streets over off from a main road where I can't see him and the

> traffic goes 50 miles an hour. I can't get out of the house at all or

> have any one that can help since my husband goes to work at 5am. I

> have till the 30th when he starts school to figure out what to do,

> does any one have any sugestions? Anything would be helpfull. Thanks,

> Tammy

>

[Guest guest]

Tammy-I think you should call your School District

Superintendent if you haven't already. If no help,

you can always call your local TV news station to

discuss the situation...Mitch

--- tammy <tammylinne@...> wrote:

> Does any one know of any laws pertaining to school

> buses. I have SMA 3

> and a perminent injury to my arm from work that

> keeps me from being

> able to move my manual wheelchair around, my

> insuarance said they

> can't get me a power chair for another three years.

> My five year old

> is starting school this year and the school promised

> me since last May

> thst they were going to pick Max up at our home,

> today they decided

> that they aren't going to do it and they want to

> pick him up two

> streets over off from a main road where I can't see

> him and the

> traffic goes 50 miles an hour. I can't get out of

> the house at all or

> have any one that can help since my husband goes to

> work at 5am. I

> have till the 30th when he starts school to figure

> out what to do,

> does any one have any sugestions? Anything would be

> helpfull. Thanks,

> Tammy

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

This is awesome news Tammy! Glad you got something. I cannot imagine being

stuck at home all the time!! Glad you didn't give up!

For the first time in 5 years I was able to go outside by myself and it was

just in time because Max starts school tomorrow. This group has been so awesome

and I wish that everyone knew how much that I do appreciate them all. I have

learned more on this group about SMA than what my Dr.s have said to me.

* Hugs,* Tammy

P.S.- If any one needs help getting into a wheelchair check out

www.Wheelchair-Recycler.com he saved my butt, well, at least until it snows. Lol

Robin wrote:

Tammy, Calling your superintendent is a really good idea. He should be willing

to help. But the idea to get a scooter would really solve the problem. Do you

have a ramp to get out of your house? I recently got one and it's been great.

MDA will pay for one. Just give them a call. I got mine from Spinlife.com

Re: school bus issues

Tammy-I think you should call your School District

Superintendent if you haven't already. If no help,

you can always call your local TV news station to

discuss the situation...Mitch

--- tammy wrote:

> Does any one know of any laws pertaining to school

> buses. I have SMA 3

> and a perminent injury to my arm from work that

> keeps me from being

> able to move my manual wheelchair around, my

> insuarance said they

> can't get me a power chair for another three years.

> My five year old

> is starting school this year and the school promised

> me since last May

> thst they were going to pick Max up at our home,

> today they decided

> that they aren't going to do it and they want to

> pick him up two

> streets over off from a main road where I can't see

> him and the

> traffic goes 50 miles an hour. I can't get out of

> the house at all or

> have any one that can help since my husband goes to

> work at 5am. I

> have till the 30th when he starts school to figure

> out what to do,

> does any one have any sugestions? Anything would be

> helpfull. Thanks,

> Tammy

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Great news about the new wheel chair - though the

comments from the Superintendent really irk me. What

a nonsensical statement to make - instead of trying to

work with a family that pays HIS bills - you - he

avoids the issue and then tries to deflect the issue

to another SD. Public employees sometimes seem to

forget who they work for - the taxpayers. How

difficult would it be to alter the bus route over 1

street? While thankfully your problem is solved for

now - in 4 months time, as you noted, you will have

winter weather to deal with...I'd keep pressing the

issue with the SD. Attend one of the Board of

Education meetings and make your case known to the

Board members - and relay the Superintendent's

response. Mitch

--- TAMMY HASKELL <tammylinne@...> wrote:

> My Mom, Sister and I called the superintendent and

> he refused to talk to us himself about so he sent

> the director of transportation to our home and the

> only thing that he had to say is that Max will have

> to walk by himself because they can't change the bus

> schedule for him to come to our house or I can

> switch schools to see if they can find it in their

> schedule. I have been calling the MDA wheelchair

> closet for over a month now, they told me that they

> had some electric chairs there that I could use and

> they gave the person in charge my number and told

> him that it was an emergency but its been over a

> week since he has had my number and hasn't yet

> called me. I do have a scooter that I had gotten

> three years ago for work when I worked at the

> hospital for MDA said that they can't help me with a

> chair for a few more years, I do love my scooter but

> since that I live in an old mobile home it doesn't

> even fit down the hall and I'm alone all day so I

> wouldn't be able to use the

> bathroom. The good news is that I was looking on

> the carigslist and found an organization called the

> Wheelchair Recycler run by a disabled man who helps

> people who are on a fixed income or can't get

> improved get a wheelchair. I e-mailed him and he

> called me that day asked me my height and size and

> had a new Invacare with tilt ready and waiting for

> me with new batteries on it the next day and only

> charged me $500 which is the costs that he had into

> it. For the first time in 5 years I was able to go

> outside by myself and it was just in time because

> Max starts school tomorrow. This group has been so

> awesome and I wish that everyone knew how much that

> I do appreciate them all. I have learned more on

> this group about SMA than what my Dr.s have said to

> me.

>

> * Hugs,* Tammy

>

> P.S.- If any one needs help getting into a

> wheelchair check out

> www.Wheelchair-Recycler.com he saved my butt, well,

> at least until it snows. Lol

>

> Robin <roses4u@...> wrote:

> Tammy, Calling your superintendent is a

> really good idea. He should be willing to help. But

> the idea to get a scooter would really solve the

> problem. Do you have a ramp to get out of your

> house? I recently got one and it's been great. MDA

> will pay for one. Just give them a call. I got mine

> from Spinlife.com

>

> Re: school bus issues

>

> Tammy-I think you should call your School District

> Superintendent if you haven't already. If no help,

> you can always call your local TV news station to

> discuss the situation...Mitch

>

> --- tammy <tammylinne@...> wrote:

>

> > Does any one know of any laws pertaining to school

> > buses. I have SMA 3

> > and a perminent injury to my arm from work that

> > keeps me from being

> > able to move my manual wheelchair around, my

> > insuarance said they

> > can't get me a power chair for another three

> years.

> > My five year old

> > is starting school this year and the school

> promised

> > me since last May

> > thst they were going to pick Max up at our home,

> > today they decided

> > that they aren't going to do it and they want to

> > pick him up two

> > streets over off from a main road where I can't

> see

> > him and the

> > traffic goes 50 miles an hour. I can't get out of

> > the house at all or

> > have any one that can help since my husband goes

> to

> > work at 5am. I

> > have till the 30th when he starts school to figure

> > out what to do,

> > does any one have any sugestions? Anything would

> be

> > helpfull. Thanks,

> > Tammy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Tammy,

I'm so glad the wheelchair recycler worked out for you! Freedom!

Kudos to you for your persistence.

Alana