Problems with school Transport

[greensaab]

i have a severley disabled 16 year old son.

 

 

in september they changed his school bus and driver

 

 

since then he has been very difficult in going on the minibus.

 

 

he is refusing to put the shoulder straps of the harness on.

 

 

this results in the passenger assistant refusing to transport him, so he was off loaded.

 

 

At that time i was ill with pneumonia so that resulted in him not going to school as no other way to get him there.

My husband works abroad.

 

It was then agreed that they would get a Taxi this was decided before October half term(28/10/2013).

The head of passenger transport said they would look into other harnesses.

 

After half term my son was ill for a few days, when well he would go on the bus but refused the shoulder straps so was taken off the bus leaving me to take him to school in car.

 

He is now refusing to get on the Bus. He is sevely autistic and going in car has now become ingrained.

 

He needs to be in school by 8.45 but i need to be in work at 8.30. It is 16 miles each way to his school.

 

my school head has allowed me to go to work an hour later ( I am loosing the money) but only to Xmas

 

passenger transport have arranged a taxi but no PA so I am having to go instead.

 

 

I am still ill with pnemonia and are due to be signed off again the Stress as this situation is really getting to me

but no one seems to care or be bothered.

 

 

i have no respite care or help and i am now at my wits end

 

If i'm signed off i cannot be paid or claim for petrol.

 

 

We dont have a huge income and this is now getting to the stage that my son will nor be going to school.

 

Surely there is someone/somebody that can help

[renegadeimp]

It really sounds like he doesnt like change. He was very happy with his routine, and now he's been pulled out of it and is forced to make a sudden change, theres no way in hell he is going to cooperate.

 

Perhaps gradually introduce the changes?

[bart7777]

I would write to passenger transport and ask if there is a reasonable timescale for when they will attempt to provide an alternative harness.Hold them to the timescale and if no solution offered ,advise them you may go to local press. Under the Equality Act 2010 it looks like your employer is possably discriminating against you. This is known as "discrimination by association ".They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to help you with childcare issues. This would need to be discussed with your employer.If you are in a union,I am sure that the representative will be glad to help you out. The guidance notes on the Equality Act 2010 are excellant and can be found on the internet for free. Why not try Citizens Advice Bureau?

[greensaab]

Actually to tell the truth the only people that have been sympathetic has been the head of my school but for how long i dont know. A taxi has been arranged to take him in the morning with me as PA. However i have just been signed of sick for two weeks due to pneumonia and stress. He has being coming home in the evenings by the minibus. His normal Pa has been off sick this week so that hasnt helped however we have discovered a few things.

On Friday 15/11 refused to get on bus in morning,so i took him to school in car. Friday evening normal Pa not on route, was a male Pa and he got on bus Ok no probs with harness.Mon & Tue not well so not in school. Normal Pa off for rest of week. Wed morning went to go to bus and refused to get on relief PA was a woman. went to school in car. Wed evening problems getting him on bus. class teacher had to help. Thursday morning they organised a Taxi. He got in no problems i went as escort. ABS fine got out other end no probs went into school happy. PA on way home was a man called Rodger looks like father Xmas we have had him before. No problems getting sam on bus, he completely ignored harness.Have now got to the stage when I feel my son just does not like women. i think he has seen me and his usual PA getting stressed by his behaviour and is reacting to it.

Now all my problems is , Is to convince Passenger Transport this is the case. The tempoary PA has said he is willing on a temp basis to act as a PA untill a permanent one is found. We emailed re this but have no reply. They still have not advertised for a PA. There has to be some legal redress ????

 

My Problem is not with my employer but with Passenger Transport. Who because my son is Statemented have a legal requirement to get him to school and they are not doing this.

 

So Who do i go to, I am now signed off sick so should not be acting as a PA but I have no alternative and no one seems to care that my son is not going to school. Surely this is discrimination against a disabled child

[Bambert]

Sounds like potential discrimination against your child by way of failure to make reasonable adjustments. What comments are in the SEN Statement regarding transport to school?