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Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities
Suspended from riding the School Bus
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Anonymous
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DS is in first grade in MoCo.
Today he was suspended from riding the bus to aftercare due to a string of various infractions -- sitting backwards in seat, pulling out his show and share item, hitting the kid next to him to try and get his attention, burping at the safety patrol (you get the picture). He has been diagnosed as PDD-NOS and ADHD (is on meds) and has sensory integration issues. We have been seeking an IEP for the better part of the year...what happens during the school day (getting sent to office for not raising hand and shouting out) carries over to bus time we believe here. He is on meds, we do therapy and have done OT for many years. My Question -- has this happened to any of you out there? Is there any recourse? How did you get through it (and maintain your sanity and employment?) Unfortunately this does not appear to be a punishment of DS, but rather of the parents; we both work full-time and not near school or aftercare (house in-between both jobs). Any thoughts kindly appreciated. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| I don't think it is meant to be a punishment - of the child or the parents. I think it has more to do with safety. If a child is dangerous to himself and/or others, then he shouldn't be on the bus. Sorry. |
Anonymous
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my kids don't take the bus, so i personally do not know a lot about it. but i don't think it's a good solution to tell a sn kid that he can't take the bus because his special needs are getting in the way. that sounds wrong to me.
there has been a lot of discussion about bus-related matters on the MCneeds group on yahoo. if you're not already a member, you should join and post the question. there is a lot of expertise there. good luck. |
Anonymous
| I agree it is a safety issue for the other children and the driver. If the meds and therapy are not controlling the bad behaviors what else can be done? If your child hit mine should I start driving my kid to school to protect him? |
Anonymous
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Where are these rude posters coming from?
With an IEP, children can ride a special ed bus. At least in Arlington. The bus has a driver and an assistant, fewer students and is less chaotic than a typical bus. This must be written into the IEP. You say you are working on getting an IEP done, what is the hold up? |
Anonymous
| how have the pp been rude? |
Anonymous
NP here: This is the correct answer -- not what the earlier posters said. Send the school a written request for an IEP right away. |
Anonymous
| How is it that he doesn't have an IEP with an ADHD and PDD-NOS diagnosis? |
Anonymous
Probably because those diagnoses were done privately and the eligibility committee hasn't finished it's own evaluations and determined if OP's DS is eligible for an IEP. (I'm bitter and not the OP) |
Anonymous
| He needs an IEP ASAP!!! I would march into the office with all your data and ask to meet with the principal/sped teachers asap. I would also start calling the deputy super of special ed. They need to be aware of this situation. They are violating your child's rights by not giving him the proper tools/accomodations in order to be successful in the least restrictive environment. They are in fact punishing him for his disability which is completely illegal!!!!! Is your child on grade level? Is that why they have been unwilling to give him an IEP? I am mad for you because this is ridiculous. Once he has an IEP he can get bussing through sped with an aide. You need an emergency IEP meeting and by talking to the people in area office it will make it happen faster. You can also try hiring an advocate. You are right that the school is punishing you as his parents. He belongs on the bus just like everyone else. Good luck!!! |
Anonymous
This makes me so nervous because DD is in preschool and I'm so worried that she'll lose her IEP before kindergarten. If a child with ADHD and PPD-NOS isn't immediately eligible, that's a disgrace. |
Anonymous
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My DS attends private school and has Aspergers and was acting out on the bus. He would lie down in the aisle, that sort of thing. I first heard about it when I was told that if he didn't shape up he wouldn't be allowed on the bus -- shape up immediately. I was not happy that I first heard about it after it had been going on for a while but I also agree it was safety issue and he couldn't ride the bus like that.
He wanted to take the bus so the threat worked. We discussed very specifically what he would have to do (structure, structure, structure) and I told him that each day I would ask the bus driver when I got him how he did and if he was good for a week I would buy him a small toy. If he was not good, of course, he would be kicked off the bus -- so a carrot and a stick. This worked immediately and he was fine. I think your first question is whether your DS can control his behavior on his own. If yes, you can work on behavior modification, but if no you need an IEP. |
Anonymous
Thank you for this thoughtful and supportive response. This is what I have come to expect from the SN forum on DCUM. I am the poster who called the previous posters rude. The people on the SN forum are not into being snarky or assholish. Each of us has had times in the lives of our children when we have been judged. the OP was asking for advice/thoughts on what to do in her situation. She did not need to hear, "well, if your kid is hitting my kid, why should your kid get special treatment?". Sorry for the rant and the obvious off topic post. I just can't tolerate this on a forum I have grown to love and has given me so much uplifting advice and human kindness. |
Anonymous
| I was told by the special education teacher at our school that the magic words are to ask for and EMT and an assessment. This is what it takes to get an IEP. When I made the request, I had a meeting within a few weeks and the assessment has to happen within 60 days. Good luck OP. |
Anonymous
And, who is the advocate for the non-SN seatmate who gets punched every day? Where is her specially written plan outlining the accommodations to be taken so she doesn't get hit? I hope that OP's son gets either an aide or his own bus very soon, for his sake and that of the children who are getting hit and whose safety on the road is put at risk by uncontrolled distractions. |