Do you mind if I ask where you are in Alabama? I am in Alabama also, in the Birmingham area. We are new to the area and I am trying to find out about school systems. I can't believe they refused to provide transportation. Good for you for calling them on it!
All states have the same requirements on providing transportation for special needs kids.
Just wondering if you talked to the lawyer about getting mileage reimbursement for last year?
It's a 35 min. drive each direction to my ds's school, and for the first two years I drove both directions. It was exhausting and I now only drive to school, since Zachary is so unpredictable in the mornings, it would be impossible to consistantly get him on the bus.
I have always received mileage reimbursement, I just fill in a log every month and get a payment within 6 weeks.
Even if they provide transportation and you don't feel comfortable putting your child on a bus, they still have to provide reimbursement. Zachary is non-verbal and it took a long time for me to trust he would be taken care of when put on the bus.
Happy to hear they will finally provide transportation, it's terrible what SD's will do when they think they can get away with it.
I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE AND ANYONE THAT LIVES IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE A DIAGNOSED SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUR CHILD!!!!!!
IT IS THE LAW!
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S 1 MILE TO SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF YOUR CHILD!
WE JUST HIRED A SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATE ATTORNEY FOR OUR GRACE AND TRANSPORTATION WAS THE 1ST TOPIC THE ATTORNEY COVERED AND THE ATTORNEY EXPLAINED THIS LAW TO US. GRACE'S SCHOOL TOLD US THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION SO FOR THE ENTIRE 1ST YEAR I DROVE MY CHILD 45 MINUTES 1 WAY TO SCHOOL EACH MORNING, THEN CAME 45 MINUTES BACK HOME, THEN TURNED AROUND 2 1/2 HOURS LATER TO PICK GRACE UP, THEN CAME BACK HOME.......LAST WEEK OUR ATTORNEY CALLED GRACE'S SCHOOL AND SAID "WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN I.E.P. MEETING TO ADDRESS YOUR LACK OF TRANSPORTATION", THEN JUST NOW ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO THE SUPERVISOR OVER MARSHALL COUNTY BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR AND SAID HE WAS JUST RECENTLY INFORMED ABOUT GRACE AND GRACE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!
ALSO, DO NOT LET THE SCHOOL SYSTEM LIE AND SAY THEY ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO DO IT AT THE AGE OF 4 YEARS OLD! THIS IS A LIE!
IF YOUR CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH A DISABILITY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION - EVEN AT 1 YRS. OLD! THE SUPERVISOR OVER THE BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION EXPLAINED THAT THE SPECIAL NEEDS BUS IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS AND AN AID WILL ACCOMPANY THE CHILD ON THE BUS!!!!
I HOPE THIS HELPS ATLEAST 1 PARENT. MY HUBBYS WORK VAN DIED OVER 2 WEEKS AGO SO NOW HE IS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK! MY GRACE HASN'T BEEN TO SCHOOL SINCE.... AND AS MUCH AS I COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SCHOOL GRACE ATTENDS NOT REALLY HELPING HER IT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING!!!!!!!!