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Post by momtofour on Jun 23, 2004 11:07:30 GMT -5
I have a 12 year old with DS. We recently moved and found out the new neighbors are going to be a pain about Lindsey's bus coming into the neighborhood. They think her bus will tear up the roads. They are trying to take a vote as to if her bus can come in or not. I'm trying to find ways to fight this. I'm willing to do all that I can. I just don't know where to start. Can anyone give me any direction as to how to get started. Right now i'm waiting on a formal letter from our doctor trying to explain Lindsey to the neighbors and why it would be dangerous for her to walk where the other kids walk to catch the bus. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by didmyheartgood on Jun 23, 2004 11:21:44 GMT -5
I wouldn't go to the trouble of "explaining" Lindsey to anyone.....especially from my doctor..If you feel you need to talk to them about why the bus comes in, then do so. They can like it or not.
If it is something she needs for her SAFETY and the school is willing to bring the bus in, then the neighbors can get over it or move....you would think they would want her to be safe. If not, then I am sure this will just be one of the battles you have with these neighbors...Know what I mean?
Let them take it up with the street dept. if the road gets messed up. Just my take on things....Let us know how it works out...
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Post by Haleysmom on Jun 23, 2004 11:22:24 GMT -5
Is this a private road? If not I think they can vote all they want. If the road is city/state owned I don't believe they have a leg to stand on. Also, I personally would hesitate to provide personal information about your child to people like these sound! I would contact city hall first to find out if they have any power to prevent this. Sorry I'm not much help, but it really goes up my --hind when people get into my business. Good luck.
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Post by momtofour on Jun 23, 2004 11:43:19 GMT -5
It is a private road with a Homeowners Association. They are worried that they'll have to pay to fix the road because the secretary/treasurer sent out a letter telling them that would be what happened. My only hope with the letter from our doctor is maybe they could understand what Down Syndrome is. Which is what makes Lindsey who she is. Considering the letter asking for the vote didn't have any information at all. It just said I want the bus to come in for one of my children. It really was a nice way to leave out alot of information. I'm just trying to find out who I need to get in contact with to try and get this taken care of.
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Post by paulineuk on Jun 23, 2004 12:07:52 GMT -5
We live in a small cul-de-sac and the school bus comes up here twice a day to pick up my two kids and 7 year old boy a few doors down all with severe special needs. My neighbours get very ratty if the bus blocks the road for the few minutes it takes to get the kids on or off safely and they also park their cars where it makes it vitually impossible for the bus to turn around . We have a great driver and after hooting on his horn he will then go to the offending car owner and ask them to move telling them that they are parked illegally on the road and if they don't move he will get in touch with the police department . Needless to say I don't get on with many of my neighbours !!!!!! However, I don't really care as the kids are my first concern not them. Don't let your neighbours get you down, we have far bigger problems than them. Pauline UK.
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Post by wrblack on Jun 23, 2004 13:02:33 GMT -5
Sounds nuts to me. We live in a townhouse development with a Homeowners Assn, and they do some nutty things too. But nothing like this. I might call up the assn. or their mgmt office and gently mention ADA to them. I'm not at all sure this would be covered by provisions of ADA but am pretty sure there's some legal protection somewhere. You might want to consult with your local ARC. If matters really went further than silliness, you might want to consult with a lawyer knowledgeable about disability law. I think I know a couple here in NJ who might very well take this on pro bono and just for the fun of it. My son Charlie's morning bus driver is usually unusually considerate of the idiots parking cars, and wanting to move them, in inconvenient places. But she did use the f-word one morning, as in "what the f--- is wrong with her," her being nice lady across the drive who very much wanted to leave at just the wrong time. Good luck, Bob
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Post by Emilysmom on Jun 23, 2004 13:46:06 GMT -5
Hi there Momtofour!! WELCOME TO UNO MAS!!!! I am also a mom of 4 kids....and my daughter Emily has Down syndrome and will soon turn 13. I'm not sure about the whole bus thing because I work fairly close to the kid's schools, and have to be at work at 8am so I always just take them to school. (Also....when our 22 year old son was about 10, a kid suddenly came up to him and bashed his head into the window and he had to have 10 stitches! Needless to say, we are NOT a school bus family anymore!)
Will your daughter be riding a regular large bus? A smaller bus? That might not make a difference, but if it was the smaller bus....surely that wouldn't tear the roads up! I'd bet larger vehicles drive down the streets in the neighborhood all the time and no one says anything! I understand why you want the neighborhood to know more about your daughter and about Ds. Maybe YOU could print up something very easy to read and informative about it and appeal to the hearts of the neighborhood association. Sorry I can't be more help. I do hope you will continue to post. I'm always thrilled when a new parent of an "older child" arrives.....close to my daughter's age. I'd love to get to know you better! Susan
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Post by rickismom on Jun 23, 2004 16:18:58 GMT -5
Welcome to Uno Land. I'm extra glad to see that you're a over age nine (kid's) mom. Good LUck!
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Post by updowns on Jun 23, 2004 16:25:47 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to Uno. I can't help you but I just wanted to welcome you and to say I'm horrified by your neighbours' attitude. Sorry I can't be of help.
Stella
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Post by christie on Jun 23, 2004 16:53:53 GMT -5
FIRST I would like to say...
Geez sounds like your neighbors are being totally unreasonable I realize being your on a "private" road its the responsibility of the homeowners to maintain the road BUT are they kidding??? Chris has been on the school bus for over 8 years now and I tell you the bus coming down the road twice a day has not done any and I mean NOOOO damage to the road What the heck is your road made out of that they are soooo afraid it will get damaged by a school bus Not sure if this will help BUT I would go to the head of your association and tell her/him "Can we say "DISCRIMiNATION" (sp?) Man on Man Grrrrrr to your neighbors I know its easier for me to say, as I am not the one in the middle of this right now BUT I would call everyone in your town starting with the Mayor on this. You owe noooo one any explantion, your daughter is entitled to a bus from door to door and these people are just plain being SILLY Best of Luck CC
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Post by Jackie on Jun 23, 2004 17:58:48 GMT -5
For what its worth....We lived in a Homeowners neighborhood on a cul de sac when Emily was in school. Our situation was a bit different...here in Amarillo if you live over two miles from school there is regular school bus pick up....Emily rode the regular bus which came into our development (the only way to get to our kids who would otherwise have to walk out and wait on a busy four lane rd.....) and....it was a full sized bus...that came down our cul de sac to turn around and never tore up the streets....its been doing this for years now...so give this to your assoc if you need to.
Jackie mom to em 24
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Post by SuziF on Jun 23, 2004 21:01:40 GMT -5
OK, here's my take on this~ (BTW: I'm also a mom to 4, my youngest, Merideth, age 3, being chromosomally enhanced) Meri's bus not only comes up our street, but pulls up our drive into the parking area (we have a small farm of sorts) where I put her into her car seat. I'm fairly sure there's some sort of federal legislation which covers this. Not sure if it's would be the ADA itself or just a civil liberties thing but even a private gated community has no right to discriminate against the handicapped. As a few mentioned, I personally wouldn't give these people any info on your daughter.Her exact situation has no real bearing on it, it's an across the board type thing. (Ya know, the privacy act sort of comes into play there) Now if anyone approaches terying to honestly get to know you,with questions I'd give them some real basic background. Actually the bus company may have set protocol on this.Especially if it's a major transporter like Laidlaw.Also, your daughter's IEP may come into play. If it says she gets door to door transport, then they can raise issue with the school board or the state. I don't think they stand a chance. Welcome, Suzi
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Post by Debi on Jun 24, 2004 0:11:23 GMT -5
Just wanted to say welcome to Uno also and to say Suzi is right..also the bus is like a public utility. I presume your neighborhood would not object to an ambulance or fire truck if one of those had to come in. As Suzi says they can try and talk to the school, but transport is a related service and, actually access to education services is a federal mandate. Obviously she would need transport to access ed. services. I also would not feel any need to share additional information on your daughter if you did not want to. There may be a homeowners association but they are still subject to the law; I guess I'd simply tell whoever was trying to ban the bus to go talk to the school. Post up more about Lindsey we'd love to meet her!! And let us know how this goes.
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Post by momofrussell on Jun 24, 2004 11:14:59 GMT -5
Well, welcome to Unomas! I agree with the others, I really don't think they have a leg to stand on. They are JUST trying to see what you will do.. like BACK DOWN. I'd be screaming ADA all the way to the bank if I were you!!! I'd look up some ADA laws online and talk to someone WAY higher than neighbors... Also, do you have your HOA handbook? Usually they give you sets of rules.. I'd read that front to back and make sure there is no snag in there somewhere... but, they CANNOT discriminate JUST because their roads are too precious to them.. and that is WHY you pay an HOA... to pay for roads, ect... I also wouldn't tell them all about DS.. personally they DO know what it is, and by the sounds of it, wouldn't make any difference anyway. They really don't care or they wouldn't be doing this to ya in the first place! Good luck... if you need us to help you find stuff on the web, just say the word! We are a very resourceful group!!! What state do you live in? A.
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Post by MB on Jun 24, 2004 22:19:13 GMT -5
Hi everyone! I know I said I was signing off for the summer, but I am up late waiting for a phone call and I thought I would lurk. However, I felt compelled to respond to this post. However, no one need feel compelled to read this response!
I am going to take a different approach. You have to live with these people. They have not been given the whole story. Why not assume that they think there is nothing wrong with your child and you are simply a pain in the neck. How about turning things around by inviting the entire neighborhood over for dessert and coffee. Let the invitation read that you want everyone to meet your family including your very special daughter/son. You could then stand up and talk about your child's accomplishments and challenges - one of which is not being ready to stand alone at a bus stop far from home.
Then you could ask for their help in solving this problem. If they are uncooperative, then and only then, hit them with the very serious legal ramifications of conspiring to deny a person with a disability their constitutional right to a free public education. I think it might be criminal meaning that they could be looking at jail time. I see this as no different than the neighborhood getting together to deny access to an ambulance to someone in the neighborhood who is chronically ill. Even though it is a private neighborhood, I can't believe the neighborhood can negate someone's right to life (fire and police protection), liberty (public education, freedom of speech) and pursuit of happiness.
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