Real people, real stories
Posted: Tuesday, 31 January 2012 | By: NSW Labor
Boy, 16, Raymond Terrace
This child is confined to a motorised wheelchair and his conditions include muscular disorder, respiratory issues, asthma and type 1 Diabetes. His father is a distraught pensioner who cannot afford a car with wheelchair access to get his son to school. He is in despair over when the ordeal will end.
Boy, 10, Beverly Hills
Child diagnosed with severe autism and ADHD. After years of relying on Assisted School Travel, the family was told on Friday they would have to make other arrangements. The family has been thrown into chaos; mum works a casual job and was forced to take Monday off, unpaid, to take her son to school; Dad started a new job this week and their second child started high school on Monday. Mum says it is just too much.
Sisters, 16 and 14, Aberglasslyn
Both sisters were born with Down Syndrome. They were stranded at home on Monday with no transport to get to school. Their mother will attempt to take them to work with her on Tuesday but she thinks this may be unfeasible. She has been informed school transport is unlikely all week.
Boy, 13, Ashbury
This child is vision impaired and has an intellectual disability. He is starting at a new school this week and his father took a couple of days of work to settle him in. With Dad going back to work on Thursday, they have been told by the Education Department to 'put him in a taxi'. Dad believes this is unsafe, irresponsible and would cost the family hundreds of dollars.
Boy, 13, Maitland
Suffers ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and can't get to school which is 15km away. His parents also have restricted mobility. They are still waiting to hear from the Education Department regarding transport.
Boy, 10, Merrylands
Child diagnosed with severe ADHD and ADD. The child's grandmother is extremely ill and requires constant care from the child's mother. Mum says it has always been tough but this week with no transport for her son, her second child, aged 5, starting kindergarten, and her mother unwell – they are at breaking point. She has been told it will be at least a week before the problem is fixed.
Boy, 8, Maitland
This child has Down Syndrome and ADHD. Mum found out on weekend there would be no transport available. She is relying on a friend for the school drop off but is worried this cannot continue indefinitely.
Boy, 8, Aberglasslyn
He is one of three children and has been diagnosed with autism. His two siblings go to a different school; forcing their father, who has work commitments, to choose which will get dropped off on time while other is late.
Tags: Adrian Piccoli,
Barbara Perry,
Barry O'Farrell,
children,
disability,
education,
John Robertson,
transport