Joe le taxi.
We've spent the last few weeks getting our brood ready for going back to school, in Cassidy's case his first day at secondary.
For those who don't know, their journey to school involves getting a taxi, booked and organized by Glasgow City Council education department alongside transport.
The girls (being siblings) get the same taxi to school and have done for the past two years.
Cass, their younger brother (obviously) who lives at the same address is now attending the same school.
Quiz time:
How would you organize the taxis?
Have a wee think, you can even go get a pen and paper if you like, I'll still be here.
If it's still a wee bit tricky here's some more info - ourselves, alongside the school, had a meeting and decided that all three of them would go to school in one taxi.
Without an escort, which are pretty hard to get for kids that need them let alone ones that don't.
And this info was passed on to transport 10 weeks before the new term.
Sorted.
You think?
Well imagine our surprise when the day before the kids were due back at school we got a phone call informing us that Cassidy's taxi had been canceled and that he wasn't getting picked up.
Turns out that transport had booked two taxis (even tho' all the kids have one reference number meaning it's one car) so the school, quite rightly had informed them that only one was needed as it was all the same family at the same address.
Simple.
Not for transport who decided that the day before schools go back is the best time to organise everything.
But hell, I only draw for a living so what do I know about reading addresses, thinking things thru' and time management?
Anyway, I'll ring them I thought and sort it out.
Cue 45 minutes of snappy "It's not our fault a bad boy done it and ran away!" coupled with "There are other parents in the same position!" and "This is a very complex job!" before finally getting told that yes, the fact that a (five person) taxi was turning up the next day for two of our children could, in fact, take another one was actually possible.
45 minutes.
Really?
But don't forget, this being a well-oiled machine meant that it obviously couldn't be that easy as they would have to cancel the kids taxi code and issue them a 3 day emergency one before re-doing all the paper work and giving them a new number.
Because reasons.
Now when the Autistic person thinks your system is a wee bit overcomplicated for absolutely no reason then you know you're in trouble.
Anyway the first three days of school went swimmingly, the weekend passed and we got ready for the first day of the week.
The cab turned up nice and early and we popped the kids in.
The driver seemed a wee bit surprised that there were three of them but seemed OK and off they drove.
We'd noticed an adult in the back and assumed that they must be for another child getting picked up.
Grabbing a quick cuppa before starting work imagine our surprise when another cab arrived.
Luckily we knew the driver so popped out to see what was occuring.
Would you believe that in their infinite wisdom transport department have decided that, in fact, it'd be way easier and less complicated to give the girls one taxi and Cassidy another.
And an escort.
Because, you know as a parent you don't realize how difficult it is to organize these things.
So I'm stuck here, mid meltdown waiting to find out what the fudge is going on.
From an organisation that specifically deals with SEN support.
And has absolutely no idea about how Autism works obviously.
Looks like my week is gonna consist of hanging around their office till common sense prevails.
*UPDATE*
Interestingly it appears that someone outside the boys assessment for secondary decided (although they had no involvement in the meeting or wanted any issues raised during it) off their own back to put in a risk assessment on his suitability to travel in a taxi with the girls.
Neither the school or ourselves were notified of the decision which is a really serious breach of protocol and yet another example of the lack of rights and respect given to members of the Autistic community.
But you know what the really sad thing is?
It's that what should have been a really exciting time for Cassidy (and us) has been turned into an incredibly stressful and upsetting situation for no other reason than someones self-importance and ego dictating that they know better than those that deal with/live him 24/7.
Luckily the school is fantastic and 100% behind us which is a start.
Have to stress the fact that last week he was in a cab with his sisters and no escort and was fine but what do we know?
More later.
For those who don't know, their journey to school involves getting a taxi, booked and organized by Glasgow City Council education department alongside transport.
The girls (being siblings) get the same taxi to school and have done for the past two years.
Cass, their younger brother (obviously) who lives at the same address is now attending the same school.
Quiz time:
How would you organize the taxis?
Have a wee think, you can even go get a pen and paper if you like, I'll still be here.
If it's still a wee bit tricky here's some more info - ourselves, alongside the school, had a meeting and decided that all three of them would go to school in one taxi.
Without an escort, which are pretty hard to get for kids that need them let alone ones that don't.
And this info was passed on to transport 10 weeks before the new term.
Sorted.
You think?
Well imagine our surprise when the day before the kids were due back at school we got a phone call informing us that Cassidy's taxi had been canceled and that he wasn't getting picked up.
Turns out that transport had booked two taxis (even tho' all the kids have one reference number meaning it's one car) so the school, quite rightly had informed them that only one was needed as it was all the same family at the same address.
Simple.
Not for transport who decided that the day before schools go back is the best time to organise everything.
But hell, I only draw for a living so what do I know about reading addresses, thinking things thru' and time management?
Anyway, I'll ring them I thought and sort it out.
Cue 45 minutes of snappy "It's not our fault a bad boy done it and ran away!" coupled with "There are other parents in the same position!" and "This is a very complex job!" before finally getting told that yes, the fact that a (five person) taxi was turning up the next day for two of our children could, in fact, take another one was actually possible.
45 minutes.
Really?
But don't forget, this being a well-oiled machine meant that it obviously couldn't be that easy as they would have to cancel the kids taxi code and issue them a 3 day emergency one before re-doing all the paper work and giving them a new number.
Because reasons.
Now when the Autistic person thinks your system is a wee bit overcomplicated for absolutely no reason then you know you're in trouble.
 |
| The amount of cabs that turned up at our house for 3 children this morning. |
Anyway the first three days of school went swimmingly, the weekend passed and we got ready for the first day of the week.
The cab turned up nice and early and we popped the kids in.
The driver seemed a wee bit surprised that there were three of them but seemed OK and off they drove.
We'd noticed an adult in the back and assumed that they must be for another child getting picked up.
Grabbing a quick cuppa before starting work imagine our surprise when another cab arrived.
Luckily we knew the driver so popped out to see what was occuring.
Would you believe that in their infinite wisdom transport department have decided that, in fact, it'd be way easier and less complicated to give the girls one taxi and Cassidy another.
And an escort.
Because, you know as a parent you don't realize how difficult it is to organize these things.
So I'm stuck here, mid meltdown waiting to find out what the fudge is going on.
From an organisation that specifically deals with SEN support.
And has absolutely no idea about how Autism works obviously.
Looks like my week is gonna consist of hanging around their office till common sense prevails.
*UPDATE*
Interestingly it appears that someone outside the boys assessment for secondary decided (although they had no involvement in the meeting or wanted any issues raised during it) off their own back to put in a risk assessment on his suitability to travel in a taxi with the girls.
Neither the school or ourselves were notified of the decision which is a really serious breach of protocol and yet another example of the lack of rights and respect given to members of the Autistic community.
But you know what the really sad thing is?
It's that what should have been a really exciting time for Cassidy (and us) has been turned into an incredibly stressful and upsetting situation for no other reason than someones self-importance and ego dictating that they know better than those that deal with/live him 24/7.
Luckily the school is fantastic and 100% behind us which is a start.
Have to stress the fact that last week he was in a cab with his sisters and no escort and was fine but what do we know?
More later.
Comments
Post a Comment