Jason looked out of the window and Christian was face forward on the wheelchair lift platform, essentially dangling out of a bus about four feet off the ground. It took two struggling adults to pull him back inside. The substitute attendant had pushed him onto the lift platform prematurely (due to the bus driver's lack of communication with her) and wheelchairs don't do well on steps.
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| Image by BraunAbility |
Christian had grate marks on his knees and his wheelchair was damaged.
You might think that the district would offer a formal apology or that the director of transportation might call us to see if he was okay. Our pediatrician does as much when our kids have bee stings. Instead, I was the one to call, Jeff Thrall the Director of Transportation who said, "Well, didn't the driver talk to your husband?" I guess if blaming the sub is talking, then yes.
If you are managing the people guilty of nearly dropping my son off a bus that perhaps you could stand to be slightly more apologetic. A follow up phone call, letter or just an apology would be in order.
Not 48 hours later, the driver threatened to "report us" for where our cars were parked. If he'd said this to my husband or I it might be understandable. But his derogatory comments over the past year seem exclusively reserved for our nursing staff.
It creates quite a bit of cognitive dissonance to trust my child to these people.
Over the course of this year I have been sorely disappointed with the Churchville Chli Central School District Transportation Department, and for that matter, also the Office of Pupil Services.
It is my understanding that Christian has been late to school pretty much every day this entire school year. I could be wrong. His pick up time was around 8:50 am, and sometimes as late as 8:55 am when school started at 9 am. There's no possible way that a wheelchair could make it from my house to a classroom in five minutes, or ten, or even fifteen.
I expressed my concern with Mr. Thrall, who argued for a while and then essentially ignored me. Whether by fate or strategy a student was added to the route and his pick up time changed to 8:30 without notice. I'm pretty sure he's still late every day, but it's more complicated to prove. If his intent was to shut me up, I guess it worked. At least until the wheelchair dropping.
I also expressed my concern to Dr. Whitney at Pupil Services, whom I had to call twice. She told me she would call me back and never did.
I think he's being marginalized because he's mentally retarded. I can't imagine the transportation department would be excused for delivering a healthy child to school ten minutes late every day, or dropping them out of a bus, or being disrespectful to their care takers.
I'm also deeply disturbed that the school district can so thoroughly ignore me about it. Aren't I the one paying $5,000 a year in school taxes (or was it $7,000)?
If I were ever tempted to put my healthy kids in public school, all I have to do is think of Christian. The Rochester City School District was thoroughly amazing. Ironically, most of the people in our new development moved here for the schools.
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