Riding the Bus Today

It is nice to be appreciated, and also nice not to pack a lunch.

@GardenGerty I missed out on the free lunch. They delivered late and I needed to get to my client.

@ElusiveButterfly My break was at the end of the serving time, and the food was not hot enough to suit me. Oh well.

Piece of cake. Three of the four IEP students are on my caseload at school.

@Jessicalynnt I would not mind doing it regularly as it would get me too and from work without having to drive.

@GardenGerty oh well I am glad to hear it!

Most of the time I am pretty happy with how things are going.

@GardenGerty ......I am glad to hear that.

@MarshaMusselman I meant that I might report here about anything that was interesting on the bus ride, but then I was tired and did not do so. On that bus I know of four children with IEP's. I am not sure how severe the disability needs to be for the bus to require a rider.Three of those four are autistic, one is basically non verbal as well. The fourth student is labeled "Intellectually disabled", used to be called Mentally Retarded. She might choose an acting out behavior, or the autistic non verbal child might act out. He is also a brittle type one diabetic. I am a para in the classrooms at the elementary. I happen to live in the community where the riders live, so it was easy for me to step in and add the bus duty to my regular work day.

@GardenGerty Thanks, it's hard for me to remember what everyone does for a living. I thought about looking at past posts but we don't tend to title them when sharing about work or similar things. While I was working yesterday, a caregiver came in with a special needs adult. They bought a few things which he paid for and then as they were leaving he asked me about something they didn't find in the back. She tried to explain that I couldn't leave my station and go look for it and also reminded him of what they'd decided when in the back of the store, which turned out to be that they'd go check at other stores. All of a sudden he became angry and began swinging his arm and hitting her. I was impressed with the way she handled it and him for it could have turned into something not so great. He walked out in a better mood. So, I fully understand why riders are needed for those 'just in case' situations.

It was and it had just the peacefulness I needed.

@GardenGerty That's wonderful!

@JudyEv It just helps keep things on an even keel. When I was a driver we did not have helpers or paras on the bus. I did it all.

Free lunch or the bus?

@GardenGerty Sorry - carers travelling on the bus with special needs children.

It was not as good as it should have been, but I did not have to pack a lunch.

Nothing like a bus rider or a free lunch?

@GardenGerty No not in my place.

It really did not require much, and I do really like the kids.

I will get paid something. Hopefully at my regular rate. I also am not sure if it is for a half hour each way or more.They cannot require something like that but not pay for it. They have always needed this kind of help. Handicapped kids have fragile health that needs to be watched and sometimes out of control behavior. If a bus had to be evacuated they would need help as well.

Things did work out well and it was a good day.

The ride to work was just what I needed, and it caused my supervisor less stress because in the past she has had to fill in on this, and she lives about twenty miles away. Like you, she is in a full time care giving position, and her other life has to go on as well. I felt happy to do it.