Bus Rides

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/26/02 4:26:20 PM Pacific Standard Time,

writes:

> I also got to learn about the lady one block over who's son rides the same

> bus as (and goes to the same school). It snowed today and DH had to

> run over and ask what " snow schedule " meant, it meant bus runs an hour

> late. But we decided on the days that they have school but the buses don't

> run that we'll carpool (actually I offered to take both, thinking she

> worked, but it'll be nice to have someone else to talk to on the ride back

> - it's a 30 minute ride NOT by bus).

>

> And now everyone can tell I'm not homeschooling....I actually have time to

> write emails...

>

> Loriann AKA Flitter the Christian clown

>

Is her child verbal and able to relay info? THen you would have a great spy

on the bus. I love having kid spies because teachers and aides don't think

they are paying attention.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

I thought I'd jump in here, as we have just started with Alyssa riding the bus.

She has attended a charter school since kindergarten (2 different school, same

charter) due to my divorce. This year I put her in the public school-6th grade.

Now she has " almost no depth perception " and has a fear of places she can't see

clearly. When I talked to the principal and Ass't Dir of Spec Ed at the end of

last year, they mentioned the special ed bus for her. I said, a bus is a bus, if

she has trouble on and off a reg ed bus, she'll have trouble on and off the spec

ed bus. We made arrangement for her to practice getting on and off the bus

during the summer. The Ass't was with us, I'm sure to see if Lys could do it

herself or if she needed to step in and insist on the spec ed bus. Lys did great

getting on, but has difficulty getting off. She is just slower as she can't tell

the depth of the stairs. So she turns herself sideways and feels with her toe

till she

reaches the stair. She has been doing fine. As I said, she is slower, and I

asked that if this was a problem, maybe she could get off last where she wasn't

rushed. But so far there is no problem. She gets on, sits down at her desired

spot and hangs on to the seat in front of her with both hands (she's used to

seat belts). She doesn't need an aide with her. I had thought of maybe needing a

buddy to coax her on or off, but so far so good. Sue & Alyssa-MI

[Guest guest]

It appears that this bus issue must be a district issue and of course, an

individual issue.

In our district, kids with sp needs HAVE to ride the short bus. They DO leave

early. They also get to the school and sit in the parking lot for quite a while

before the kids go inside. I would sure hate to be on that bus!

And parents are NOT allowed to ride on ANY bus, insurance issues. We have

tried, esp the middle school bus with our other son when there are a lot of

behavior issues on the bus. A group of us parents offered to take turns riding

the bus to help monitor the kids.. not allowed.

It was a fight to have Mav ride the reg ed bus, but it is an important part of

his educational experience. As an adult, he's going to have to learn to be

riding a bus or some type of transportation, know the times to be there, and

know what to do when he misses it. He's getting that experience.

As with many things, there is no RIGHT or WRONG on this issue, it depends on how

your district is set up and the individual needs of each child. BTW, it IS

written into Mav's IEP that he rides the reg ed bus.