x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by IQ12 with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:16:23 -0500 thread-index: AdAFD54+TWgGwIUMSOefqwe4Dm0RFA== Thread-Topic: Transportation of Madeline Aldridge From: To: Subject: Transportation of Madeline Aldridge Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:16:23 -0500 Message-ID: <5EC3C3E4FE8D46929A2DB061F7D945D6@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Nov 2014 22:16:23.0207 (UTC) FILETIME=[9E4A6B70:01D0050F] CUSTOM Ms. Angela B. Moss 123 Norris Ave. Apt. D D York SC 29745 dove4moma@gmail.com 18038187808 N/A FEDE Transportation of Madeline Aldridge Gov. Haley , I am writing you to request your personal attention to my grandaughter being denied transportation to and from school. Reason being, her wheelchair, which is SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR MADILINE per Shriner's Hospital. Maddie is a bilateral amputee and a very INDEPENDENT child. She is in full control of her wheelchair and requires minimal assistance in any type of transferring. The state law says, each child with a disibility, should be addressed on a "A CASE BY CASE" situation. The IEP team (school represenatives only) , NOT the PARENTS are following 4 pages of the state law, while ignoring the LAST PARAGRAPH!!!! You can't pick and choose a part of a state law, when regard to a disabled child. That's why it's called an IEP! Individual Education Plan! She has been denied transportation for 2 months due to her SPECIFICALLY DESIGND WHEELCHAIR TO MEET HER NEEDS, NOT having being seat belted attached to her chair. As I said, Maddie is in complete control of chair and due to build of her body (top heavy) if a seat belt is strapped to her wheelchair, it would cause more harm than good.. The special needs bus has a driver and a monitor and their job is to assist per Maddie's request. Maddie wheels herself onto the lift, locks her chair and holds to the 2 handrails on the bus, then transfers to a regular seat on the bus, seat belted. God forbid if for whatever reason, if she was seat belted and fall from the top of the lift, her injuries would be significant due to Maddie not having control of her chair ( seat belt would not allow her to land on had and arms supporting the fall. Three questions have been ask of her parents 1-Do you want us to touch her chair? Common sense is the answer. 2- facing forward or back to bus. (No one can give a definitive answer). 3- seat belt to her chair. As mentioned above this would be, more harmful than helping. That's were the roll of the driver and monitor comes in. BE ALERT, PREPARE THE LIFT CORRECTLY&ASSIST AS NEEDED. Their is a strap that can be placed on the LIFT not her chair, to aid in preventing her chair falling from the lift ( again bus drivers responsibility). We have spoke with the school district LEA team, emailed state represenitives, attended IEP meetings to no avail. Please Please Please, the ADA has a signigficent presitent over state law. May I also add, she has rode 2 years with no problem. A speedy response would be appreciated. Think you. needs bus has a driver and a monitor, which are to monitor Maddie and only assist per Maddie. Maddie is very capable of and does roll herself onto the lift, locks her chair and holds the bars on the lift for support. To put a seatbelt to her wheelchair and G