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Post by ALLISA on Jul 16, 2007 13:14:35 GMT -5
Okay, at my last IEp I pushed for an aide on her bus....and got it !! She is on small bus.....about 4-5 kids....ALL are ASD.....Erin was having a few issues of head banging and general irritaion. So now I have an aide.....and I feel let down..... The aide doesn't even sit with Erin....sits with another boy....doesn't greet Erin, doesn't seem to interact at all. I get on the bus with her, I put her in car seat....aide and bus driver are chit-chatting the whole time ! The boy she IS with.....does a lot of shouting out, etc....and every time he does, she says "waht do you want ? what's wrong with you ?" It doesn't seem as though she has ANY training what-so-ever......so now what ?? Should I be expecting more from her ? I'd love to hear from those who have a bus aide and what the aide "does"...thanks all !!
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Post by Renee' on Jul 16, 2007 14:16:33 GMT -5
The Aide that rides on Laurens bud helps her get on the bus. She takes her back pack. She buckles her in the seat and she helps her off. I have never been on the bus. I am not sure if she rides in the same seat as she does but she is always talking to her and she is always helping her.
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Post by hannahph on Jul 16, 2007 17:52:47 GMT -5
I would tell someone higher up. It sounds like this person had not been trained properly or is not doing her job. Hannah has had several bus aides over the years from several schools. They all help her get to her seat, sit down, buckle up and store the backpack.
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Post by momofrussell on Jul 16, 2007 19:24:08 GMT -5
Well gee... you aren't asking for much.. heck yeah something needs to be said. Maybe just poiltely call the bus garage and ask what duties the aide is suppose to have? Play the game a bit and see what they say.
Our aides put our children ON the bus and take them off. We have laws here and we (parents) are NOT allowed on the busses at all actually. Took me awhile to adjust to that one... but we have the aides actually CARE for the children.. not just chat with the driver. I don't think I'd be diggin on your aide LOL
A;.
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Post by Chris too on Jul 16, 2007 21:30:36 GMT -5
Are you sure this aid knows who she's being paid to aid? Maybe she thinks it's the loud boy, maybe they told her Erin and she heard Aaron, found the most needy boy on the bus & is helping him. Maybe you could talk directly to her and say something like "Here's Erin, please take good care of her." Might wake her up.
Chris, too
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Post by ALLISA on Jul 16, 2007 21:40:26 GMT -5
Chris, LOL !! I did intorduce both of us the 1st day and say how glad I was to have her looking after Erin and if she had any questions regarding behaviors, etc to never hesitate to ask. Also the bus driver knows beacuse I told her after my IEP meeting that Erin would be assigned an aide. The only other thought I have is that maybe she is there for more than just Erin...I can't be the only mom who thought it was nuts to have 6 kids who require 1 to 1 aides in a safe stable classroom, then set them all loose on a moving bus ! I've got a call into Sped....summer is here....so who knows if anyone is in ??
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Post by CC on Jul 16, 2007 21:49:32 GMT -5
"Should I be expecting more from her ?" YES you should, least I think so. Its the same here as for A~ "Our aides put our children ON the bus and take them off. We have laws here and we (parents) are NOT allowed on the busses at all actually" Chris has been riding a bus since preschool and each and every bus he has ever been on has an assistant on the bus. He is older so he just gets on, hooks his own seat belt and such but when he was younger the aide helped him. Now for us the only assistant I need for him is keeping him away from the fire exit door My guess is the aide is there for all the kids on the bus but from what you have said she sounds like not a very good assistant I would pursue it more. Best of Luck. CC
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Post by Staci on Jul 16, 2007 21:53:36 GMT -5
I love Aidan's aide...she gets a present at Christmastime She greets Aidan every day...says good-bye to him every night, along with the bus driver, whom I also adore. They chat with ME and not among themselves. Aidan has a friend who he sits next to, the aide sits behind them both...kind of "central" so she can be near all of the kids. Aidan rides a big bus, a handicap bus, so there are many wheelchairs on the bus as well. I see her interacting with all of the kids. I don't think I'd be happy with the treatment you're receiving I'd be asking around, perhaps doing something to get another aide? I wish you luck. I know how frustrating this must be for you. Staci
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Post by chasesmom on Jul 16, 2007 23:03:59 GMT -5
Oh Allisa! If I hadn't of read your words I would think it was a joke. YOU put her on the bus and buckle her in? ? YOU got the aide for her? ?? Remember my saying and sadly it is true...the squeaky wheel gets the grease.....you ned to contact the spec ed director and tell him/her what EXACTLY you expect the aide to be doing. I never heard of any aide not doing it! The aide is susposed to take Erin from you and put her in her seat and buckle her in and if she is there for Erin she is suspose to sit next to her as does the aide on the bus for Chase did for years until he no longer needed her sitting next to him but she stil sits in the seat across from him just to be close...IN CASE. I have never never never ever heard of it being done any other way, grrrrrrr! The spec ed director needs to get on the ball to the transportation dept and get them moving on that aide immediately or get a new aide! No ands, ifs or buts. d**n, such simple things and they still can't get it right! Hugs, let us know how it goes Robin
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Post by ALLISA on Jul 16, 2007 23:35:38 GMT -5
thanks guys....you are the best ! I am really angry now at my district ( see my speech gripe under the education listings).....that one will REALLY make you laugh Robin !! LOL Talk about a joke ! Anger is a big motivator for me.....gets me moving......so back on the phone first thing in the morning. Thanks again !!
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Post by ALLISA on Jul 19, 2007 7:29:48 GMT -5
Well, I talked to Erin's aide today..... I said " I don't mean to put you on the spot so I apologize if you feel I am, but I'm curious about how it is that you are aiding Erin. I had to fight in her IEP to have monitor for her, yet I don't feel like she is in any differnt of a posiiton than she was without one." She said she did not feel on the spot so I said good, let's just clear the air and next week start on a better page. I said I've never had an aide so maybe I am confused on what her duties are, but I'm puzzled aboout why you don't even sit with Erin....why aren't you with the child you are assigned to ? She started to say she was there for ALL the kids, but I said no I beleive Erin is the ONLY child who has written in her IEP that she needs a monitor, and the bus driver interjectred and said Yes, you are here primarily for Erin. I said I would imagine if ANY child on the bus had a problem then you would help as you are the extra set of hands, but for the most part, your "job" is Erin. Then I said I felt there should be more interaction between the 2 of them, I honeslty don't know that Erin even sees her with those really high-back seats that the bus has. She got MAD when I asked about the car seat and why she isn't the one to put Erin on and take Erin off and said " I thought you liked to do it, that's not my fault" and proceeded to argue that point at least 6 times, so I siad, no I think it's best if you handle that so then Erin gets to know you and understand that you are there for her. So we agreeed to her either sitting with Erin of if there isn't enough room in the seat for both then at least sitting across the iasle from one another. Then....the bus driver told me that the monitor was on vacation next week anyways....sighhhh...... But the driver said she'd be sure to talk with the fill-in monitor and then I guess when the "real" monitor comes back, we'll see how that goes..... I won't put in any calls to the sped office yet, see if I can iron this out on my own before I get them involved. Seems like it'd be a whole heck of a lot easier if I just drove her......doncha hate that feeling ?
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Post by Renee' on Jul 19, 2007 10:34:55 GMT -5
Allisa I am proud you said something. Today Lauren's aid was not on the bus. The driver got up and helped her on the bus. Put her in the seat and buckled her in. I find it so strange that she thought you should be doing that. I have never had the chance to even put my foot on the bus. I am always greeted at the door. I have felt the same way as you at one of the schools Lauren attended. Just keep fighting for her. It will all work out. The right person will come along.
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Post by ALLISA on Jul 19, 2007 16:19:00 GMT -5
thanks.....but it did NOTHING......today.....when she came home from school ( just a mere 4 hours after I thought I had cleared the air)....the monitor.....not with Erin again, did not attempt to get Erin out of seat, no good bye no nothing ~~~......it was like I said NOTHING at all this morning !!! The bus driver DID attempt to move Erin's seat so that she would be able to sit across from the monitor ( because Erin's old seat had no seat across from it....but monitor was seated across the aisle next to the window with the same kid she always is with seated near the aisle close to Erin.....where I thought the monitor would be !! I was so angry I couldn't say anythign because I WOULD HAVE yelled and that isn't what I want..... I am so hopping mad right now.....WTF ? I need a good strong drink tonite !!
GGRRRRRR......
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Post by CC on Jul 19, 2007 19:52:35 GMT -5
I know I have something better on this very topic
BUT
I can't seem to find it yet, so for now thought I would share this.
Role and Responsibilities of the School Bus Aide
School bus aides work with the driver to ensure that all students are safe on the school bus. Bus aides sit midway in the bus, not in the front. Bus aides are responsible for: 1. Assisting with seat assignments. 2. Taking attendance on the bus to and from school. 3. Signing in at the school upon arrival in the morning and afternoon. 4. Securing car seats, wheelchairs (on/off the lift), etc. 5. Helping to maintain proper discipline. 6. Seeking emergency assistance when needed. 7. Working with students only in and around the school bus.
(Note: Bus aides cannot assist students beyond the curb; parents must escort students to and from the school bus.)
Our district has a head of transportation, not sure yours does, but if they do I would suggest calling them right away.
Best of Luck
CC ~
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Post by chasesmom on Jul 19, 2007 20:02:20 GMT -5
OHHHHHHHHHH GIRL TODAY is NOT the day to get me PEED OFF! I think...no, I KNOW I shall join you in that drink missy! So, let's regroup and let me think this thru out loud. Nice bus driver, stuck up for you, good job, moved Erin's seat even, deserves a pat on the back, tell him/her I said wtg. Now Monday when the bus pulls up, you wait at the bottom step with Erin, dont get on and let the SUB come get Erin from you and ask ever so nice for her/him to please buckle her in and sit next to her or right across from her and interact with her please and thank you in your ever so sweet voice. All week long. And then the following week...when dragon wench is back...you do the EXACT same thing so Erin is used to it by then, you STAY OFF THAT BUS Allisa, I know it is going to be so hard for you but don't you get on that bus. If dragon wench doesn't get off her dead can to come get her, smile up at the driver and ask him to tell her to get off her lazy arse and come get sweet Erin as is her job and when she does, you smile and remind her in your sweet voice ONCE AGAIN that she needs to sit NEXT TO ERIN and point out that the driver has moved Erin's seat to accomodate the lazy hateful aide. When they bring her home...if the aide is NOT where she belongs, you SLAP her..LOLOL, no no no, I am kidding, honest.......you do NOT smile, you do NOT go get Erin, you stand and wait for her to bring her to you no matter HOW LONG it takes and when she finally does Allisa you look her in the face and say...."I have asked nice twice, I won't ask nice again" and you go make your call..or you call me and let ME call because I am just begging to tear a head off right now and that wench would be a good start! Whew...ok feeling better...amazing what words can do when you are really angry and being taken advantage of like that wench is doing to Allisa who did nothing but be kind and try to handle things the kind way!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR! I know you know how to handle it Allisa, but it made me feel so much better to say it for you!!!!! hugs my friend, why dont we live close to each other? Robin
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