Yellow Bus Strike...

As we are well into our second week of the NYC-Yellow Bus Strike, can not help to complain how stressful it can be on us parents.  The Yellow Bus Transportation system although a private entity, are employed (by contract), to the BOE.  The Yellow Bus Transportation system is responsible for the transportation of 150,000 Special Needs children to school!  It is even more annoying for me because I have to transport two kids to two different schools.  (I will not even complain about the fact that have arthritis in both knees, gout in one foot, & possible nerve damage in my left foot due to diabetes - which combined can be very excruciating!)  But I must admit I have an advantage than most parents.  I reside on the East-side as well as both children attending school on the East-side, which is approximately a mile from my home in either direction;  I am also SAHM which means I do not have to go running to work and worry who is now going to pick up my child from school on time.        

Although the BOE has concocted plans to help ease the burden of parents by trying to provide Access-A-Ride for disabled individuals, and vouchers for private car service - it is not all what it is cracked up to be.  I am not sure what is the qualifications for Access-A-Ride individuals other than a physical disability, the vouchers for private car service is a joke.  According to the application forms I received, the voucher has to be given to the private car service every week (like a timesheet) and they fill out the forms.  I in turn bring the voucher forms to the school and they submit it to the BOE for approval and payment.  The payments is submitted by mail every two weeks (like a paycheck but in the mail).  But not only do I have to bring the vouchers every week to the private car service and submit it to my child's school to the BOE - I have to call them daily twice to make sure they are reminded to pick me up in the am and the pm.  And payments are for only 10 trips a week!  That means the private car service takes me to the school with my child & drops me off, and I return to where ever on my own.  In addition, I have to meet the private car service at the school after I have picked up my child.  I have not even stated the fact that the list I was given for the private car services - only two are in my area.

I was even told by some parents, that the private car services they called had no idea what the BOE voucher was about?!  They knew that the yellow buses were on strike but that is all!  And the fact that the BOE was paying for private car services daily at two weeks at a time - I am sure was not appealing...HOWEVER, the best was receiving two metrocards - one for the student which had 3 free rides and the parents' metrocard which was UNLIMITED.

How can any parent complain about that - unless you have a Special Needs child which is terrified of people or Mass Transportation?!

Good Luck to any parent who has to deal with transportating their Special Needs Child in these horrendous weather conditions...