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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Deaf children

76 replies

FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:14

Probably being VU but I'd like to understand why.

My DS's school has a high proportion of deaf children, it's a specialist centre.
The rules are that no parents can drive on to the site in the morning or evening even though there is a large parking area but the parents of the deaf children are allowed to drive in and out with impunity.
This means that there is LOTS of traffic on the school grounds, and in my opinion it's dangerous for ALL the kids in the school because of the way the carpark and yard and paths are arranged, I keep seeing nearly accidents and can't help thinking it won't be long before there is one.

So AIBU to think that the deaf children and parents should walk on to the school grounds like everyone else as they don't have mobility problems?

OP posts:
Whiskwarrior · 10/01/2014 16:17
Biscuit
CuttingOutTheCrap · 10/01/2014 16:19

I'm confused. Do you mean that the parents of hearing children have to park off-site and walk in, but the parents of deaf/hearing impaired children can drive in? Is it one school or two on one site? What is the reason given for the difference?

LineRunner · 10/01/2014 16:19

So this is actually about parking?

Morgause · 10/01/2014 16:20

YANBU - can't see the reasoning behind this.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:20

Yes that's exactly it Cutting.

No reason given. It's all one school but there are specialist deaf tutors on site

OP posts:
Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:21

Not just parking LineRunner, I don't want to park, I just don't want my 4 year old to have to dodge loads of cars in the morning

OP posts:
MeepMeepVrooooom · 10/01/2014 16:21

Your thread name is ridiculous for what you are actually posting about.

eurochick · 10/01/2014 16:22

YANBU. It seems very odd.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:22

sorry, couldn't fit it all in the title

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 10/01/2014 16:23

I would ask the school why this is. It may be there is a good reason, if not, then you'd be challenging it from a position of knowledge.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:23

I think there must be a good reason but I don't want to seem ignorant so thought I'd ask here first

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 10/01/2014 16:25

There is likely to be a good reason for this and your title is not the most subtle.

CalamitouslyWrong · 10/01/2014 16:25

DS's school has a visually impaired unit. The parents (or taxis) pick them UK from special parking places in the school grounds. Lots of the students are picked up by taxi. As far as I know, no one thinks this is a problem.

Some of the students may be vulnerable in other ways, as well as the issues arising from hearing loss. It's not just mobility issues that can make navigating the environment safely difficult (not being able to hear, for example, may affect this).

CuttingOutTheCrap · 10/01/2014 16:25

How do you know about the rule? Presumably the school wrote out when your DC started or something? the notice must have given some form of reason surely?

WorraLiberty · 10/01/2014 16:26

You need to ask there first

I can't see anyone here knowing as much as the center does.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 10/01/2014 16:27

Really so so that's the best title you could come up with?

I do agree that cars should be kept to a minimum during pick up and drop off. Maybe you should voice your concerns with the head teacher and ask him/her to improve safety in the car park.

coppertop · 10/01/2014 16:27

Deafness can still cause issues with walking around. For starters you can't always hear traffic coming, people walking behind you, children on scooters and bikes.

If there are a lot of children and parents around, it can be difficult.

Parsnipcake · 10/01/2014 16:28

Probably the deaf children come from all over so need to be driven, while the other children will be local and able to walk in? It doesn't sound that safe though. I know as the parent of a feaf child, negotiating traffic is very hard as she really can't process the visual cues as easily as I can process hearing the speed of a car as it is travelling.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 10/01/2014 16:29

It is possible that a number of these vehicles are school transport rather than actual parents which would explain why they have to come on site.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:29

Well I have just recieved an email as I had complained about the volume of traffic coming in and out of the school where there is a carpark and a driveway for the kids to cross on site. No lollypop lady or crossing area.

Surely this state of affairs is dangerous for the deaf children, all the children.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:31

I have done, I've asked and emailed and I have talked to the caretaker.

The response was that.

There is a drop off area for parents coming in with cars which is just outside the driveway

OP posts:
coppertop · 10/01/2014 16:31

If it's a specialist centre, many of those children will be travelling a long way. If they are in a school taxi, the escort will have to hand the children in their care over to a member of staff.

ExcuseTypos · 10/01/2014 16:32

Could you ask for your title to be changed please?

AFAIK the phrase you're looking for is "hearing impaired children"

Ifcatshadthumbs · 10/01/2014 16:32

Look it really is irrelevant about whether the children are deaf or otherwise. The issue is that if the school are permitting vehicles to come on site then they need to create a safer system.

Address the issue of how this can happen safely rather than getting into a battle about why parents of deaf children can come on site.

Original poster
FrameyMcFrame · 10/01/2014 16:33

I'm not in a battle about it!

OP posts: