School Bus and Child Falling off seats

TyAndCheyMommy · Aug 18, 2011

My DS is 5yo and started k this year.
This is his second day riding the bus, and he came home crying. He has a bruise on his arm and said he hit his head.
He fell off the seat on the school bus.

I am not sure what to do. Should I try and find out from the driver what happened? Should I go ahead and just call the principle (or superintendent is who we have dealt with before)?

tam_shops · Aug 18, 2011

I'm so sorry! Been dreading when my guy starts in September (well for years now! LOL), never occurred to me he'd actually be falling off the seats, more that there would be an accident and...

Personally, I'd start by asking your son what happened? Where was he sitting? How was he sitting? What was he doing? etc Then, I'd discuss that with him.

Then I'd go to the school bus driver and see what he had to say about it. I wouldn't be surprised if the driver had little or no clue, but I'd go there. Depending on the response there, I'd take it up w/ the bus company, not the principal. Here, the principal would just defer you to the bus company...

tam

TyAndCheyMommy · Aug 18, 2011

He sat on the seat with our pastors daughter. She said he was just sitting there talking and the bus turned and he fell off the seat.
The principle is who hires the bus drivers. There isn't a bus company.

4boysmom · Aug 18, 2011

Er is he low tone? Was he sitting correctly in the bus or maybe on his knees or something?? I am not sure how that happens unless there is something 'wrong' with the kiddo. Kiddo should be able to "brace" for a turn unless there are extenuating circumstances. Was he the only one to fall off the seat? Can he sit on the window side if his tone is too low to be able to compensate for turns?

TyAndCheyMommy · Aug 18, 2011

Tone is fine. He is autistic, so I am not sure he really even understands fully.
In the mornings he rides a van to school in a harness. At night he rides the bus.
Would it be crazy for me to try and get the school to put a harness for him?

ketchupqueen · Aug 18, 2011

I don't think that would be crazy, though you might be prepared to at least share the cost.

I'm guessing that the issue is that it takes a certain amount of concentration and situational awareness to keep your seat on a bus when making a turn or stop. If he doesn't have that level of awareness, and he may not, being autistic, his brain works differently and he processes sensory input differently, then he needs a harness to keep him from falling when that happens, since he can't do it himself.

jenrose · Sep 5, 2011

Shiny is six and they put her in a harness because if they don't, when she gets to school 40 minutes later she will be naked, sitting in a puddle of pee on the floor and very happily eating someone's school books.

They don't charge me, if the kiddo is special needs and needs a harness to be safe on the bus, the school has to provide it, in the US. Federal law.

She's physically capable of sitting in the seat, but her balance isn't good enough to keep her in it, and her cognitive ability is in no way up to staying on task for a 40 minute bus ride without supervision.

mama_katz · Sep 5, 2011

Could something transportation related be added to his education plan? My son's IEP states that he rides a special needs bus with a safety attendant and a secure seating device.

School Bus and Child Falling off seats

TyAndCheyMommy

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tam_shops

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4boysmom

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ketchupqueen

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