We Shall See

Apparently I ruffled some feathers last week with all my calls and emails about school bus schedules. On Friday, I got a call from the head of transportation and one from the director of special ed. The special ed director even offered compensatory services for the time that Ronnie has missed by being at least 30 minutes late for school each morning.

After I arrived home from work, I got a phone call from the second in command of transportation. That gentleman said that beginning Tuesday, Ronnie would have a different bus and a different schedule. The new schedule has him being picked up at 8:17am.

Of course, the first bus had a promised schedule of 8:20 am so I guess I will have to wait and see if the new bus will actually be on time. I sure hope so...

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The weekend was difficult with all the 9-11 tributes. I watched hours of shows, almost as much as I watched when the events were originally unfolding. My grief and sadness was just a raw as it was then, and the tears just as plentiful.

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When I wasn't watching the 9-11 tributes, I was absorbed by my own little marathon of The Good Wife. I never watched the show when it was on TV, but several months ago, I started watching season one on Netflix. After just a couple of shows, I was hooked. I couldn't wait for season two to come out on DVD, which it did this weekend. Now I just have to get in 16 shows before season three starts this coming Sunday!!

Just Go Another Way, Why Don't You?

Do you think I can't see the disgusted look on your face?

Or the impatient drumming of your fingers on the steering wheel?

Do you really think that gunning your motor is impressing anyone?

Or that the way you inch forward over and over again will make us all move faster?

If five minutes is going to make you really late for wherever you are headed, why don't you just turn around and go another way?

I know you live in my neighborhood because I see your car at the same time every morning. Haven't you figured out that the bus that picks up two of my children arrives at exactly the same time each morning?

It takes more than a few minutes for my children to get on the school bus. The aide must get off the bus, open the door to the wheelchair ramp, lower the ramp, help my son back his wheelchair onto the ramp, buckle the safetly strap around him, raise the ramp, shut the door and secure it.

Then the aide must make her way back onto the bus while I help my blind daughter find her way to the bus steps. The aide stands at the top, takes my daughter's backpack, then reaches out to help my daughter get on the bus.

Then after everyone is seated and secured, the bus can move.

And you, very impatient, rude person can speed up, just to get more frustrated when the bus has to stop again.

I'm really glad that you are not one of my co-workers, because if you act that way when two children with disabilities are boarding the bus for school, I can just imagine what an a** you are in the office.

A Wonderful Change!

Today’s blog is about a very rare subject – at least in my life and Ashley’s life. I’m so pleased with the bus staff for this Summer’s ESY, and I feel compelled to state that publicly.

“WHAT!?” you ask. “AREN’T YOU THE PERSON WHO WRITES ABOUT HOW AWFUL TRANSPORTATION IS IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT?”

Yes, that would be me. In fact, here are links to some of my past school bus rants – July 2009, April 2009, June 2008, September 2007, July 2007, and again July 2007.

I’m not naïve enough to think my school district transportation services have suddenly healed themselves, but Ashley’s services during ESY this Summer have been stellar.

The driver that picks Ashley up in the morning has met her in the past. He actually remembered her and remembered some of her little quirks, especially the ones that keep her happy during the bus ride. He remembered about her seizures. And most importantly, he seems to genuinely like Ashley.

The aide is new, and perhaps she is taking her cue from the driver, but she also is very pleasant and seems to enjoying Ashley’s presence.

But the thing that ensured these two a spot in the Ashley Hall of Fame is the way they ‘took on’ the teacher when they felt the teacher wasn’t treating Ashley the way they wanted her treated.

They spoke up – they demanded changes – and the changes happened!

Now Ashley skips out to the bus each morning with a big smile on her face, and seems equally happy on the bus trip home. Life is good with this Summer’s transportation, and for just a little while, I’m not going to worry about transportation woes for the upcoming school year.