DownSyn Forum

truedovemomma · Posted: June 12 2010, 8:39 AM Post subject: Down Syndrome and Preschool

Did your child take a regular bus to and from their preschool? If so, was it a regular bus or a special needs bus? My daughters coordinator for First Steps met up with me this week and this lady from JCPS told me that Regina would NOT be on a special needs bus....she would be on a regular bus with NO seat belts, NO car seats......but that the children she would be around would be her age...and that I shouldn't worry because they've only had one fender bender is many years.

My issue is not with whether or not they have good drivers, because I already know they do...but I know my daughter, and she would not sit still if she didn't have a seat belt or car seat or whatever...

I really don't think it sounds right that a special needs child shouldn't have rides to and from her preschool on a bus that is made for special needs kids. I get that it's good to mix special needs with non special needs....but in this case, I think it would be a REALLY bad idea.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

DanielsMommy · Posted: June 12 2010, 9:12 AM Post subject:

Hello!!

My sons rides a special needs bus to and from school (there are only preschool kids on it though). He has a seatbelt/harness type thing and without it...I woudln't let him ride. He just turned 5 and will have 1 more year of preschool. So next year, assuming he's at our home school...at that point, I'd probably let him ride the regular bus with his elementary school peers.

_________________

Lisa - Mommy to Elayna 10-1-02 and Daniel (Ds) 6-7-05
Always have hope....Without rain, there can be no rainbows.

Courtney · Posted: June 12 2010, 9:17 AM Post subject:

Lucy is about to start school in July and she'll be on a special needs but...I think it's one of those van-buses. She'll be in a car seat.

_________________
~Courtney
{Lucy, 5, Ds, AVSD repaired 1/08; Brodie, 3}

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!" -CS Lewis

truedovemomma · Posted: June 12 2010, 9:29 AM Post subject:

DanielsMommy wrote:

Hello!!

My sons rides a special needs bus to and from school (there are only preschool kids on it though). He has a seatbelt/harness type thing and without it...I woudln't let him ride. He just turned 5 and will have 1 more year of preschool. So next year, assuming he's at our home school...at that point, I'd probably let him ride the regular bus with his elementary school peers.

Would either of you feel comfortable with your childs safety if they had JUST turned 3 and was on a bus with no seat belts or anything?

violettesmom · Posted: June 12 2010, 10:35 AM Post subject:

So here's what happened to me.

In the IEP meeting, they said that Violette could qualify either with a "Developmental Delay" label or a "Speech Language Imparement" label. I asked "If she didn't have DS, based on her testing, where would you put her?" "Speech Language Imaprement" was the answer. So I suggested we ought to use that label.

But later I found out the same thing you did - she will ride a typical bus. I'm more than ok with that when she is 6, but at 3? Really? I worry she will wander and get up. They did say they could get her a seat belt. I think it is crazy.

_________________

MomtoAndrew · Posted: June 12 2010, 4:28 PM Post subject:

Andrew rode the little bus to preschool (with integrated 5pt harness) and the van home (with 5pt harness carseat) because it was stated in his IEP that he needed a 5pt harness.

Next year he'll be in Kindergarten and it was a dilemma as to what he would ride to/from. It was suggested (by his teacher) that he uses spec. needs transportation.....but I prefer to have him on the regular bus with his siblings. I talked to our bus driver about his feelings on this & he was fine with it. He told me that if Andrew needed a seatbelt/carseat, and it was in his IEP, that they'd have to provide it. He said that they've even switched busses for routes because of that sort of need....or purchased the special bus seat that has the integrated 5pt harness in it. Mind you, this may not be the case in all school districts but, luckily, it is in ours.

I'd push the issue with the school (you'll have to call a meeting & get the label changed in the IEP) and with the bus company....there's no way in h*ll I'd let a 3yo ride in ANY vehicle w/o proper restraints.

_________________
Nicki, proud SAHM to:

Brady the Magnificent (1 Cool

Li'l Miss Ellie (12)
Mr. Mikey-Monkey-Man (9.5)
Sir Andrew (DS, 7)
Mr. Owen (chronological age 9.5mos, adjusted age 7mos)

cris · Posted: June 13 2010, 6:08 PM Post subject: seatbelt

Max rode the bus home from PreK. It was a regular bus but they had a seatbelt for him. He now rides the regular bus home and it also has a seatbelt. I don't think it's too hard to put a seatbelt in the first seat on the bus. If it's a matter of safety, the bus company should be willing to put one in. Ours was. Give them a call.

_________________
Cris, Max's mom

The only true disability in life is a bad attitude.

burnsun · Posted: June 13 2010, 7:17 PM Post subject:

They can get a star seat for the regular bus....... ask! They are allowed to go on all buses.

All of mine have been on the ECSE in preschool and in one..... when the older ones do the se bus they have star seats cause I request them or they could do seat belts or vests....... the star seats are the easiest imho!

When COlin, eliza or Melea takes the regular bus for a field trip with their peers they go in a star seat (bus transport provides) teachers order it..... a 5 point harness restraint for buses....hooks on and off the seat and kids like a car seat

I would be uncomfortable because I have a typical three year old and none of mine with DS were his size....they were just 20 lbs or a little less and with the extra bendability the accident thing scares the HELL out of me!

COlin would not even stay in the seat belt till this year when his weight hit 50 lbs (he slide out from under it.

We are going to try a regular seat belt on the bus next fall with colin....he is almost 55 lbs and finally tall enough too....same size as most kgnters and he is going in third grade!

When ours stated regular kgtn.....we had no choice but the se bus..... but that is cause our kids do not go to our home school...... one that is just the same distance not the school the rest of our subdivion goes too...... but Adrian goes to the same school as them and she is on the bus...

our home school has the autism program........ not the cross category room in and I like the little school they go to a whole lot better there are only 250 kids.....and 6 are mine!

_________________
Jane
mom to
Colin Miguel (11/19/00) DS & type 1 diabetes, ASD
Devon Richard(4/13/01) DS & Autism & Partial Complex, Seizures terology of Fallot
& Retinal detachment w partial blindness at this time
Melea Isabelle(2/13/02) DS
Adrian Elliott (7/04/03) ADD
Eliza Marisol (5/15/04) DS , ASD, pulmonary hypertension, ADHD, ODD, Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Miranda Olivia (2/1/05) DS & Partial Complex Seisure Disorder & iratractable epilepsy & Stero Typical Movement Disorder & AV Canal
Jordan Alexander(3/17/2007)ADHD
Emerson James (1/08/2009) 33 week preemie
Sarah Emmaline "Emma" Grace (2/15/2011) 35week little one with a variety of issues inc: cp & fragile x & Seizures & severe birth trauma & G-J tube, Severe reflux, and recurent pnumonia and tracheosomy and vent chugging princess since 8/24/2012!

wife to the best & greatest guy Eric

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DanielsMommy · Posted: June 13 2010, 8:05 PM Post subject:

Quote:

Would either of you feel comfortable with your childs safety if they had JUST turned 3 and was on a bus with no seat belts or anything?

No way, I wouldn't allow that.

In our city, we have an Early Learning Center which houses all the special needs preschools (all types of classes).......so it wasn't an option for him to ride on the big bus....cause it doesn't go to his school.

But, if his preschool was our home school.....I don't think at 3 I'd let him ride on the regular bus with the elementary aged children. He was just too small at that time. He needs a seatbelt for sure no matter what size the bus is. Even now at 5, I'd be apprehensive...he still needs a seatbelt for sure.

_________________

Lisa - Mommy to Elayna 10-1-02 and Daniel (Ds) 6-7-05
Always have hope....Without rain, there can be no rainbows.

Tigger · Posted: June 13 2010, 10:19 PM Post subject:

There is NO WAY I would put Talitha on a bus without seatbelts. She started preschool at 3 and I have always taken her. We don't have the same sort of bus system for preschoolers - only for kids at school. She will be 5 at the end of this year and still there is NO WAY I would let her on a bus without a proper seat and seatbelt. I have to have a seat with a 5 point harness in the car because she won't stay in the seat with a normal seatbelt.

_________________
Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

JMMH · Posted: June 13 2010, 10:28 PM Post subject:

Matthew just turned 3 and will start preschool in August. I would not put him on a bus without a car seat. There is no way he would stay in the seat. We're not even putting him on a bus with a car seat - I'll be driving him. It's a 15 minute drive, so I might change my mind after several weeks of it, but I'm just not ready for that yet. Smile

_________________
Melissa & Jason
Matthew (DS) and Zachary

Kara · Posted: June 13 2010, 10:46 PM Post subject:

My son took the small bus to and from preschool. We had it written in his IEP that he was to have a 5 point harness on the school bus. I would not trust him to stay in a seat without some form of harness/belt. His drive was 30 min, that's a long time for him to sit still anywhere. It was not even an option to send him on a regular (long) school bus. They only bus kids to our preschool program who have special needs. The kindy program is in the same school, but is on a different time schedule so riding on their bus would not make sense either.

Lilysmom · Posted: June 13 2010, 11:54 PM Post subject:

In our district, even the typical Headstart kids ride on the bus with a seatbelt and an aide. I wouldn't let Lily ride the bus without something keeping her in a seat.

_________________
Heather, mom to
Lily 7-27-06 DS AVSD repaired 11-28-06