Milwaukee girl with disabilities school transportation roadblocks

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee grandmother says she’s operating into roadblocks getting her 12-year-old granddaughter with disabilities to and from faculty.

Betty Fox is the authorized guardian of Da’mya Thomas, 12. She mentioned Frederick J. Gaenslen College, outfitted to accommodate youngsters with particular wants, presents her granddaughter the companies she wants. 

“She will get bodily remedy. She will get occupational remedy,” Fox mentioned. “She’s tube-fed, and she or he’s diaper modified.”

The difficulty, Fox mentioned, is getting her there. Whereas buses have come to the alley behind her house to choose up Da’mya up to now, Fox mentioned she was advised that’s not an choice.

“She loves faculty as a result of they play music for her,” mentioned Fox. 

On the primary day of the brand new faculty 12 months, Fox mentioned a daily bus confirmed up a block away, unable to accommodate Da’mya in her wheelchair. As a substitute, they took metropolis buses, battling obstacles like building.

“It was too consuming for her, in addition to me,” mentioned Fox.

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Now, she’s mentioned she was advised a bus from First Pupil might decide up Da’mya in the event that they take her throughout a one-way avenue.

“However look what we gotta undergo to get her throughout the road,” mentioned Fox.

Fox mentioned the steps, curbs, visitors and autos doubtlessly blocking the bus’ ramp might all be averted if the bus would come again to the alley, one thing she mentioned First Pupil buses have executed up to now.

“We don’t need to do something however simply open up the again door, roll her out to the again,” mentioned Fox. “The alley is the most secure strategy to get her. Coming from her home shouldn’t be.”

A consultant from First Pupil despatched this assertion to FOX6 Information: “First Pupil’s precedence is to offer secure and dependable transportation for each pupil passenger. Security consists of stops, participating with and contained in the bus, and procedures for exiting/coming into the bus. Our driver correctly recognized a doubtlessly unsafe scenario. Upon notification of those circumstances, we instantly launched an investigation, evaluating another, and secure, resolution.” 

Fox mentioned their choice comes up brief, promising to maintain going the space for her granddaughter.

“I don’t wish to put her in hurt’s approach,” mentioned Fox. “I’m not going to cease till I get what I want for her.”