Reply to Bus driver, attendant fired after leaving special needs 4-year-old alone on DC bus for hours

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Reply to "Bus driver, attendant fired after leaving special needs 4-year-old alone on DC bus for hours"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I know this is somewhat off of the topic but I have a neighbor that works at the bus yard where the child was left for 6 hours.  The driver feels that they should both be fired and go to jail.  The driver also wants to bring attention to the failing system.  While there are many safeguards in place many of the drivers don't follow all of the rules and nothing happens.  Many of the buses are not suitable for transporting children.  The heat will be out in the winter, or the air is out in the summer.  These are conditions reported by the drivers that don't get fixed.  In the summer time children get over heated on non air conditioned buses, or freeze in the winter.  That so called alarm that the driver allegedly disabled does not always work.  These are things that are ignored by the employees that report them.  Drivers often get buses that have been reported as not working properly and they break down enroute causing children to be on the bus for hours in the morning and many are hungry because they eat at school and drivers can't feed the children.  Many are in diapers that are full or overflowed when this happens and drivers can't clean them up.  A large number of the bus attendants are hired through welfare to work programs and often times the workers do not take the positions seriously and there is not enough done on the management end to get these workers in line.  My neighbor is a good worker that cares deeply for these children.  While trying to remain employed has reached out to many in higher positions concerning these issues and has gotten nowhere.  I'm sure officials read this forum so lets do something about it.[/quote]

First of all, the drivers and attendants can feed children.  Many times, attendants learn what the kids like because it may calm them down, etc.  Secondly, the attendant is on the bus so that he/she may attend to a child who many need their diapers changed.  As shocking as this is, air conditioning is not required on a bus.  DC is the only system that has air on all of its buses.  In Alexandria, NONE of the buses have air.  If a child needs air and that is noted on his/her IEP, they will pay for a taxi.

Yes, buses break down.  DC buses are definitely older than other fleets, however, I must say that the city has FINALLY started buying new buses.  I cannot tell you how many drivers and attendants take their jobs very seriously.  Sometimes they have the only positive interaction for a kid all day. Are there some drivers and attendants who are jerks, of course.  After working with them for many years, I actually have a lot of respect for what they have to deal with.

Officials try really hard to correct this problem, but the former receiver David Gilmore, did not do the city any favors.[/quote]

Let me begin by saying that I did not post this to make anyone look bad.  My concern is for the children who ride the bus and continuing to improve the quality of service provided to them.  It doesn't have to take years to fix things that you know are broken.  It is not fair to compare DC to any of the surrounding bus systems because DC only transports children that have disabilities and special needs.  These children require more than an average child.  A parent should not have to get a taxi if the bus is stated to have air condition.  These children have ranges of medical conditions and excessive heat during the summer is not healthy for anyone.  I don't know how long it's been since you have worked with these people but according to my neighbor changing diapers is considered inappropriate contact with the child.  There is a strict no eating or drinking policy on the bus, that includes staff and passengers.  Also because the driver is not always aware of allergies or special diets they are not permitted to feed the children.  It's not always as simple as give a child a cracker.  Some of the children have problems eating, or swallowing and are at risk to choke easily.  There are many reasons it is prohibited.  I appreciate the people that come to work to serve those children.  It takes a special person with patience to do the job.  Unfortunately everyone does not come to work and perform their job.  That is why that child was forgotten.    [/quote]

You are not making anyone look bad.  I just know the system.  All school systems transport the same special needs kids.  The only difference is that DC ONLY transports special needs kids.  Other jurisdictions actually transport more SN kids.  The number of medically disabled kids on the buses are few.  Most of the kids who ride DCPS buses have things like ADHD or a mild learning disability.  Air conditioning is not a medical necessity.  That's why other jurisdictions don't have air.  It is VERY expensive to maintain air on a school bus.  Trust me, you would want your money to go elsewhere.  Drivers and attendants are given special instructions in the beginning of the year regarding diet etc.  A driver would not give a child who has trouble swallowing a cracker.  They are trained to know.  Many times, food may calm down a child.  The child might have a favorite thing that makes them happy.  The driver oks it with the parents.

You are correct, the job is not for everyone.  I know there are many dedicated drivers.  Like all systems, there are also drivers who are terrible.[/quote]

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