Mommy0608
New member
DD wants to ride the bus to Kindergarten. She's 5 years old, 44" tall and 34lbs. She has epilepsy and someone with her needs to carry her emergency medication (Diastat) at all times. DD can not be trusted to carry it herself, nor do I think they'd allow her to. When she has a seizure, she falls limp and would therefore fall out of her seat, hence the harness requirement. Harness use has been written into her IEP. The district has the STAR seats available for preschoolers (and presumably for older kids with special needs).
I need to contact the bus garage to figure this all out, but I'm not exactly sure what to ask for or expect. They seemed a little annoyed to have to deal with this when I spoke to some transportation representatives at Kindergarten Round-Up. When I mentioned that she'd need a harness, they just said, "Oh, we don't do that for elementary kids" even when I said she had a stipulation in her IEP that includes harness use on the bus. At her IEP meeting later on, the district's Director of Special Education had no hesitation recommending harness use be written into her IEP, so I know they'll have to do it whether they like it or not.
So... do I ask to set up a time to get her fitted for the harness and to show her how to use it? If she does ride the bus to school (still not exactly sure, depends on how this all works out), do I board the bus each morning to buckle her, or will she be expected to buckle herself (she'd only be riding to school, I am picking her up for sure)? There are no aides on the bus.
Second, what do we do about the Diastat? Do I send one to school for her teacher and one to keep on the bus? They are $450 each to replace, I don't want them just floating around. Also, it has to be kept within a certain temperature range, and therefore can not be left on the bus in the winter or late spring/summer.
What if there is a substitute bus driver? What if the driver doesn't notice her having a seizure? What if DD wants to know why she's the only kid in a harness?
I'm beginning to think I should just drive her to avoid all of this, but poor DD just wants to be a normal kid and ride the bus like everyone else. She doesn't understand that she has seizures or even what they are.
Anyone have any tips or ideas of what to expect or ask for? I don't want to be "that mom" but I fear that I already am.
I need to contact the bus garage to figure this all out, but I'm not exactly sure what to ask for or expect. They seemed a little annoyed to have to deal with this when I spoke to some transportation representatives at Kindergarten Round-Up. When I mentioned that she'd need a harness, they just said, "Oh, we don't do that for elementary kids" even when I said she had a stipulation in her IEP that includes harness use on the bus. At her IEP meeting later on, the district's Director of Special Education had no hesitation recommending harness use be written into her IEP, so I know they'll have to do it whether they like it or not.
So... do I ask to set up a time to get her fitted for the harness and to show her how to use it? If she does ride the bus to school (still not exactly sure, depends on how this all works out), do I board the bus each morning to buckle her, or will she be expected to buckle herself (she'd only be riding to school, I am picking her up for sure)? There are no aides on the bus.
Second, what do we do about the Diastat? Do I send one to school for her teacher and one to keep on the bus? They are $450 each to replace, I don't want them just floating around. Also, it has to be kept within a certain temperature range, and therefore can not be left on the bus in the winter or late spring/summer.
What if there is a substitute bus driver? What if the driver doesn't notice her having a seizure? What if DD wants to know why she's the only kid in a harness?
I'm beginning to think I should just drive her to avoid all of this, but poor DD just wants to be a normal kid and ride the bus like everyone else. She doesn't understand that she has seizures or even what they are.
Anyone have any tips or ideas of what to expect or ask for? I don't want to be "that mom" but I fear that I already am.