ok my ds has Autism he is 4 1/2 yrs old up until now he had transportation to and from school. this year we have the usual letters with info regarding bus company..well the bus didn't showed up Wednesday 1st day of school. It gets better the triplets also go to the same school for 2 1/2 hrs but they all used to come home on the bus together! well we are told the first day of school that they no longer offer transportation (budget cuts, all that nonsense! here is the problem Jake is Autistic gets 3 hrs of special ed (pre k disable)then gets taken to another school (yes 20 minutes away) by bus to a regular pre-k this town does not have regular pre-k.U have to take him to school at 8:30am the girls are in p.m. class so I have to get everyone up and dressed take them all to drop off Jake (cross a very busy main street with all 4) then return home with the girls and go back at 12 to drop them off. Jake gets home by bus at 2:30 but the girls who get no transportation also get out at 2:30 I can't be in 2 places at once. My dd has CP, wears a leg brace, an arm brace (bigger than her) and cannot walk fast so not only I have to carry her and her book bag while holding the other 2s I have to cross a main street to get to my car (did I mentioned that there is no parking lot) anyways now they gave me a paper "parking permit to park in the staff parking lot) but there is no parking and the handicap spot is impossible to get to unless you are ther 1/2 hr early. We talk to just about anyone in the special ed, county board of ed...you name it and the parking paper is the best they can do for us. DH and I work opposite shifts so that one of us is always with the kids. You all know how hard it is to find reliable, affordable help not to mention the fact that out of the four two are disable! I am at my wits end not sure where to go or what to do..I tried to have the girls put on am but they have no room for them. Do I get a lawyer> what's the next step? I can't take them out. I just don't know what to do..any advised? Sorry this is so long.
thanks for reading..even if no answer is nice to vent!
Ivy
http://dn.daisypath.com/5b6Im

You might have tried this already, but I am assuming you have IEPs for the two disabled children. Ask for an IEP meeting for one or both of your special needs children - they have to accomodate you. Make sure you request all the members of the "team" you want to have there.

Lay it all out on the line with them. They should ALL be able to see that you cannot be home at 2:30 to greet the bus AND at school at 2:30 to pick up the others.

Plus, I thought it was mandatory that they offer bussing to ALL children who have "bussing" included in their IEP as part of the accomodation for their disability (maybe this is just our state law in IL?). This should easily cover Jake and your daughter with CP. Once you get them to agree to provide bussing for those 2, then you just have to argue to get the other 2 on the bus - especially since they are stopping at your house anyway!

Is there an option for the parent to pay for bussing? That might be another option for you. Perhaps you could argue to pay for the 2 that don't have special needs, while the other 2 could ride for free?

Sorry this sounds so difficult. I don't have any brilliant ideas, this might be how I'd approach it.

There is ONE place you haven't spoken to yet -- the news media. You'd have to weigh this option carefully as it can go in directions you don't want it to. Also any town council/mayor, etc. You may have to go outside the school system to call attention to the issue.

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

Thanks so much. I did requested the IEP..both DH and I are law enforcement officers so the media is not an option for us! (you'll think we are both public servants yet can get them to help us!) I will bring that up maybe if we oay for the bus...I am just so mad at this whole thing! Thanks so much for the reply.
Ivy
http://dn.daisypath.com/5b6Im

Not my triplets to be, but my older middle kiddo...we faced the same issue a few years ago....long story short...he had some severe behavior problems and attended two schools during the course of a day....they told me they could no longer bus him. Well I worked...I couldnt go get him and take him...etc...Heres the outcome...if your child is on an IEP..(which he was)...then he or she is protected by the "No Child Left Behind" Act. This act mandates that all schools that receive any federal funding basically go above and beyond to ensure children with disabilities etc. are given every advantage to try and catch up with the other children and to stay within a 'normal' school setting as much as possible. If your kids are in public schooling that receive federal funding, just you making the threat to report them not being in compliance with that act, will make them find money for transportation. If the federal government is notified that a school is not complying with that act, they will receive all federal funding for a period of year. You can google that act and read up on it. My kiddos school principal actually told me what to say to get the transportation back. It wasnt up to her, it was the district trying to cut it.
Needless to say, he had his regular bus transportation back within 3-4 days.
And..Id never volunteer to pay for transportation for my kids to or from school...thats what all the fees we already pay are for.
However, if your kiddos go to private school, they dont have to follow the rules of that act if they don't receive federal monies.

Did all that make sense?? LOL

~Ashley~
Mommy to the six K's!
Keegan, Kyler, Kenzington and our trio Kaden,Kali and Kobe

Hi Ashley thanks so much for your advise I just printed it so that I can start the calling from work tomorrow. I am also going to ge a copy of the "no child left behind" This continues to be such a nightmare. Thanks so much for the advise
Ivy
http://dn.daisypath.com/5b6Im

Iy - Good to "see" you! It has been a while.

It stinks what you are going through with the school district - have you looked into a special needs advoacte who would work with you on this? I would try to go it alone with the IEP meeting and if all else fails, get an advocate on your side to go to battle with you (and your kids) they know the laws, what you can and cannot "force" the district to do and all the loopholes -

Good lock!

PS - I saw the pic of you and your princesses on the photo forum - you look amazing Mama and the girls have gotten sooo big.

Take care.

Grace

Gracy
BGG (9/18/04 @ 31 weeks) and G (3/6/06 at 38 weeks)...
Save the babies!
www.marchforbabies.org/4littlesplinters

Hi Gracy: How are you? I am so glad to see yiu here. Its beern crazy around here with kids, work and school. Thanks so much for the advise I am definitely calling the cerebral palsy league for an advocate. Let me tell you would think that paying $9,300.00 in taxes will get you some service in this town,
How are the kiddos? I hope everyone is ok.
Ivy
http://dn.daisypath.com/5b6Im