hello , i work with the short bus and all my kids on teh bus have autism, add,adhd etc... i have my first kid get on at 7am and dropped off at 8 30am. I know its a long ride, but sometimes the bus cant accomodate the child due to t he route they have. If he is the first to pick up unfortunately there is nothing they can do. I got 16 kid sin the morning and 18 at afternoon. Most of them fall asleep ,so the ride is not so awful. I try to make the best and entertain the difficult one. Hang in there. I think that's an excellent suggestion to have your physician/dev ped/neurologist write a letter explaining why this is unacceptable. I cannot IMAGINE why they would have him on that bus so long! That is just horrible. My ds kind of likes long bus rides, but even for him that would be too long! I mean - what if he needs to go potty? Two hours is a long time and I think some kids wouldn't be able to hold it that long. In addition, that is WAY too early to have to get on the bus. What about breakfast? I could go on and on, but will just tell you that I hope this gets straightened out for you - double-quick!I had to give up on busing for my 10 yr old...he always had too many problems socially and with noise...it was a short ride and a spec ed bus as well...My friend who also has a child like mine with SMS(smith-Magenis Syndrome) which is easily mistaken and misdiagnosed for ASD and PDD/NOS. has had issues like this one year. she knew her son would NEVER be able to tolerate the ride. She called the diagnosing geneticist and had him write a letter explaining whyand why he wouldnt suggest moving him to a non-handicap bus (too much noise) either. Maybe your doc would write this letter for you.I don't know of anything that says there is a limit to how long they can be on a bus...I think it just says that they have to provide it.
I know Skylar started a pre-school program for autistic children a week ago, and he rides a (short bus) that is just for the kids with disabilities. There are only 3 kids on his bus (these kids go to regular public school from 8-2). They have to pick him up at my front door at 7:20 am and drop him off at 2:10 pm. I was told that the school board will NOT allow children with these types of disabilities to ride a regular school bus due to the amount of children and length of time on the bus. So they have special ed. buses just for these children. The kids that are in the autistic classes (that are older than Skylar) go to school from 8-3 and the same rules apply to them as well.
I would do what Carolc8632 said, and call the transportation department, and call your school board also. That is why they have the short buses, is for these children with disabilities. Keep track of who you have called and who you spoke with and what you were told. And go as high up as you need to. There is no reason for that poor child to have to be on a school bus that long. That is stressful for an NT child, I know, I have one. I can only imagine what it must be like for your child.
Fight this tooth and nail. Make them do something, this is not fair.
Thank you everyone I am going to call the transportation dept. He is going on a "short" bus, which is good but too long. I appreciate all of your suggestions. I hope they are cooperative.
Please help! I am trying to find any laws/rules that say how long an autistic child can ride the bus to school. My son will have to get on the bus tomorrow at 6:50 and not arrive at school until 8:45. That is just too long, he gets very tired on a regular day, he is almost six and still takes naps. I am so worried and want to do something, but don't know what. Why do we have to sacrifice so much just because our children have special needs?
Kelly
I would start by calling the transportation department of your school. I know where i live they are very accomidating. I would tell them your concerns of your child being on the bus for so long. its really not fair to him to have to drive around for such a long time. Ask them if there is anything they can do maybe add a second driver.
it sounds like the present driver has too many pickups, If calling doesn't work you will probably have to write a letter. Better yet, do both, call and write a letter just to cover yourself.
good luck Wow that is a long ride! This would be even harder is some sensory issues are present with sound.
Copyright Autism-PDD.net