There are 12 days left of school, and counting....

As I have said before, I have struggled with schools with my son from the beginning because of his diagnosis and related behaviors; And, as I have said before, we moved into this school district over Christmas break, so he transition ahs not be the most smooth. He has trouble generalizing skills, so it is like starting from the beginning every time the smallest thing changes. 

Yesterday when the kids got off the bus, I could tell my son, Will was upset because he was red in the face and ran off. His sister ran up to me and said Marryann, the bus driver, needed to talk to me. Running up and getting on the first step to talk to her, I could see that she was crying, and the first thing she said was "I can't take him any more." What? Then sh bega into how she can't handle him any more, she has to yell at his 6-8 times every trip in the 15 minutes they are on the bus. I asked if since we were so close to the end of the yaer, if it would work better if I transported them. Then she got a different look and stated into how if he was ever allowed to step foot on her bus again, he would be lucky and how the principal was going to meet him at school the next day the second he got off and he was going to get what he deserved. I was very pleasant with her. Thanked her for letting us know, said we would address it, but wanted to punch her in the face.

Now, bus issues are not new for us. At the old school, my kds were on the bus for 55 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes depending on the day. They often got sick on the bus because of the long ride and their car sickness struggles. Buses were not an easy adjutment for him at all. Luckily, the bus company worked with me. Will was able to tour a bus before riding one. The bus driver was able to work with us to develop plans. He had a bus buddy - whch was an older good influence kid he could sit with that helped him stay busy, and they would often talk about pokemon. He was allowed to take a transformer on the bus because transforming them kept him busy and occupied. He was allowed to sit in the front seat and talk to the driver, Randy - who would talk to him about construction vehicles and trucks, keeping him occupied. He even had ear plugs in hs bag and a thin black silky cloth to put over his head when it was just too much.  Now, he was not without his mishapps, and there were times that Will hadto be writen up. On thise days, Randy would tell me he had to write Will up and what Will had done, and we would address it. So bus issues are no new thing for us. 

My problem with this was, the Bus driver never said a thing to me before, and she had plenty of oppertunity. I am not a mom that waits at home for their kids to walk home. I am at the bus stop every day waiting for them. I introduced myself and shook her hand in the first week so she would know me and my kids. Every day I wave to her coming and going. Never did she say a thing to me. So since the ride was 15-20 mintes and she ever said a thing to me, I assumed that we were not having issues on he bus. Boy was I wrong. 

So, after I talked to th driver, I went to find Will. He was hiding 200 yards away under his trampoline, in a ball, face down in the grass crying his eyes out. Whe was upset that I was going to be mad at me. I told him I wasn't; that veryone makes mistakes. Then he starts repeating the exact words that Maryann used to speak to me followed by self hateing statements. He said "I know I'm going to get what I deserve" and "I know I will be lucky if I ever step foot on her bus again" followed by "I know I'm stupid - I'm sorry I'm so stupid." etc.... I was furious that she had said such things to me, but realizing that she had said such things to my 2nd grade son was almost more than I could stand!

It didn't help tha later on when I was reading teh note from his teacher for the day, he started into how she lied about him... not because she was wrong really, but more because she put her perspectives on what happened and left out details will thought was important, which made him go into "everyone hates me" and "everyoe is against me"  and "it's al my fault because I am so bad" ..... he was such as wreck that we never got his homework done because he was so worked up he kept making simple mistakes and when i would point them out, he wuld start into how stupid and unlovable he was.... I couldn't take it. 

I waisted no time in calling the special education director at the school leaving a number to contact me and telling her that this was going to be something we added to the 504 plan..... as soon as I learned what behaviors were actually occurring. 

So far today I have called and left messages with the school principal, the transportation dirstor, and the supervisor of the bus driver.... no responces. THe special education director did get back to me and told me that this does not sem right - your telling me. 

Meanwhile I am STILL waitingfor a BSC to help me in dealing with the school, so I don't have to do it alone, but found out that our authorization runs out - without ever being staffed - the 18th of this month and in order to be staffed, I have to go get a new evaluation and have a new ISPT and start the process all over again. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Any thoughts?

:) Susie