Radio 4 You&Yours Sen transport

[AgnesDiPesto]

Just caught end of this about councils charging for sen transport and taxi drivers ringing in to say parents are too lazy to get dressed and take their own kids to school despite us all having free mobility cars. Am going to listen again on website

Yes, I heard that and fumed!

Nothing at all to do with parents (even of SEN children) needing to go to work, then? Or having mobility cars because they are, just possibily, disabled? Or having to spend so long getting sSEN child ready that own shower tends to wait until the child's transport has gone and we can breathe a sigh of relief (ours goes at 7:30, I'm bloody lucky if I get to use the shower before then).

AND beeeeeeathe. I think I'd better not listen again!

might even bReathe this time.

I am really disappointed that they just read that comment out without challenging it in any way.

I also object to the idea that if you have a child with SN it was a risk you took in having a child and you have no right to support from society as a whole. Maybe we should pay for all the extra medical treatment too! I wonder if this person would change their tune if they truly experienced having a child with SEN.

The bus driver that collects my lads is lovely, so I'd be surprised if he had those views.

I heard it too - I feel sorry for the parents whose child have that taxi driver - mine is lovely though so I am sure it is not him either ! I think the stupid woman saying it's all the parents' choice and responsibilty when they have a disabled child was really not understanding what the transport is actually for though.

didn't hear it - might try to catch it in iplayer. I have two points immediately:

The Motability car is NOT free - AND we had to pay for the WAV alterations.

I cannot take my other children to the MS school at the same time as my SN child to the SN school.

Our taxi driver is lovely and I'm sure he doesn't have those views - but he has said that sometimes a child is not even there - no answer from the door from some of the houses! - the only explanation I can think of is a sudden trip to hospital.

Not a good time to be disabled, is it?

Yeah I can get ds to his unit which is over hr away while getting dd to her school small matter of not driving as well

Well, if we took our kids into school by car, those dumb-arse taxi drivers would be out of one of their most lucrative and reliable jobs. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot

Yep I heard it, shocking wasn't it. But then again most people hold a range of views on various topics which are usually pretty uninformed. Another reminder that so few people are exposed to the world of looking after children with disabilities. Let's just hope people making decisions on such things in our councils take a little time to think it thru!