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WWYD-School Transportation.

Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
in Special Needs
My DS started public Pre-K this past Monday, in his IEP it is stated where he needs transportation. The school board has pretty much dropped the ball. The transportation department sent out bus passes to parents about two weeks before the start of the school year but I did not receive one so I called the school bus terminal who would be responsible for transporting the kids that attend the school DS goes to I was told that he was in the system, so I decided I would attend the transportation open house they had last weekend to get a pass. To make a long story short DS name and address was in their system but there was no bus assigned, no bus stop nothing.
I have been in contact with the ESE coordinator at my son's school but all she tells me is that she has emailed the director of the transportation department and she has six special needs kids who were supposed to have transportation and they don't. I have sent e-mails to the transportation department, to the district chairperson, to the board of education superintendent. So far the only response I have gotten is from the superintendent's secretary letting me know the email was forwarded to the department of transportation. I think I am being given the run around and I do not have time for this. I started a new job this past Monday (same day as the start of the new school year) thank God my supervisor is being understanding. I go to work 1-1 1/2 hr late in the mornings because I have to drop DS off then I have to take more time off in the afternoon to pick him up and drop him to his daycare then go back to work this is another 1-1 1/2 hr.
What can I do to get someone to pay attention and do what they are supposed to because I do not want this to go on into next week, I do not want my job to think I am taking advantage of the situation.
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Re: WWYD-School Transportation.

  • MaxandRubyMaxandRuby member
    I would look at this site to get some general questions answered and I copied a paragraph below.  https://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner,12,  It is time to take things to the next level IMO. You have made multiple attempts to get this remedied. You need to write a letter to whomever the next level is (write it to the Director of Transportation, whomever their boss is can be copied, and maybe the head of Special Ed - Auntie probably knows better). The letter should include detailed information of attempts you have made to get this resolved (date of letters, emails, phone calls, etc., who you spoke with and sent written letters to, their response, names of people you spoke with, etc.). I would also include the actual law that pertains to IDEA and transportation (I think it is referenced below).  Now, some people may not go this route but I tend to not sit back and wait especially if it is written into the IEP.  Maybe others will have alternative ideas of how to get this handled.

    From the site: The IDEA and its implementing regulations continue to address the transportation needs of children with disabilities.  Transportation is a related service as defined by 34 CFR §300.34(c)(16) of the IDEA regulations and can include travel to and from school and between schools; travel in and around school buildings; and specialized equipment such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps.  A child’s individualized education program (IEP) Team is responsible for determining both if transportation is required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education and related services, and how the transportation services should be implemented.  The IDEA and the implementing regulations also include travel training in the definition of special education.  Travel training is instruction that enables children with disabilities to develop an awareness of the environment in which they live, and to learn the skills necessary to move effectively and safely from place to place within that environment.  Both transportation and travel training are important services IEP Teams should continue to consider when they plan for a child’s postsecondary transition needs.
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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    Thank you MaxandRuby, I think I may just have to go your route (no pun intended). I will start by writing the letter and gathering all the necessary emails while I see if there are any other ideas which may get this resolved quicker.
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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    @ MaxandRuby. It seem so strange to me that the director, or anybody from transportation for that matter, their email is not listed at all on the school board's website. I am able to find everyone else's but just a general email for transportation concerns.
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  • MirandaHobbesMirandaHobbes member
    That is crazy- I'm so sorry you have to deal with this, on top of starting a new job. I can't believe they haven't at least found him a bus by the time school starts- I know it takes time to shake out the schedule, but to expect parents to be able to just drop everything and run them around for a week is nuts. I can understand feeling jaded like you're being singled out- I've had that feeling a couple times. Like when I went to Kindy Roundup and they didn't have my son's name on the list, and therefore I didn't have a packet made up for me. I was told "oh, I don't think we made packets for 'those kids'" meaning the ASD kids. I just smiled politely and waited for her to make me up a folder. Yesterday I got my transportation card and it's just all wrong- wrong address (they're sending him to his old daycare) and wrong class times. Fortunately for me I have a direct line to the transportation services- they do transpo in-house. I also have a social worker who is in charge of doing this sort of thing. When I've had transpo issues in the past my MSW always dealt with it. I hope things get sorted out by Monday- I think it's a good idea to be polite but firm. It is true you'll have to deal with these folks for quite some time.
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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    Thank you all for your kind responses. I called the bus terminal that transports the kids who attend DS school again today they now say they have a route and a bus stop for DS. They gave me some specifics that makes me hopeful I will be fine by Monday. I was actually told he should have started taking the bus today. The only glitch is that I was told I would get a bus pass from the school but up until the school's office closed today they did not receive the info from the transportation department yet. I will wait until tomorrow and hopefully I will get the pass when I go to pick him up tomorrow afternoon.
    @ Auntie that's why I was hesitating on going mama bear because I know I would have to deal with them all year and possibly every year for the next 14 or 15 yrs :)>- so I didn't want to get them pissed off.
    @MirandaHobbes I commend you on your restraint because I definitely would have gone mamma bear on that teacher. Makes you wonder the kinds of people they have in the classroom with your kids, because that was just downright nasty. Thank you ladies.

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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    I did get the bus pass from DS school today. Now I have to deal with my issues with putting him on the bus lol. If we didnt have that glitch I would have been used to all this by now :-). Once again thanks for ur input.

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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    I know DS will like it eventually, its just that first morning I think he will be screaming his lungs out because he has never gone in a vehicle without myself or DH. There was one time I dropped off my car at the shop for some work and had my friend stop by the daycare to pick him up before she took me home. DS would not go in the car, I had to take him up and we went in the car at the same time. That's why I think I may have a fight the first few mornings. For me I am a  bit antsy because of a few news stories a few months ago regarding children forgotten in school buses and died. I already told his teacher I will always notify her by text and email if he will be absent, so in the event he is not in class and she didn't receive a message from me to call me right away.

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