School bus disruption 'intolerable' for autistic teen

The mother of a teenage boy who is autistic says her son has missed school due to repeated issues with his bus not arriving.

Catherine Williamson's son Andrew relies on Education Authority (EA) transport to bring him to his special school in Ballymena from his home in Doagh.

She said it hasn't turned up "so many times that he now feels that he is at fault. He feels that he is to blame”.

The Education Authority apologised and blamed staff sickness, mechanical issues and recent poor weather conditions.

Catherine said the disruption began in September 2023.

She has complained to the EA several times but said there are still mornings where the bus does not turn up.

"I have lost count, the number of times that that bus has just been a no show.

"He begins to pace up and down the corridor and say to me 'have I done something wrong? Does the bus not want to come and collect me?'.

"Because of his autism he cannot regulate his emotions the way the rest of us can," she said.

Catherine described the problem as "intolerable" and said "structure is so vital" for children with special educational needs.

"I am totally exasperated because obviously I have made complaints after complaints after complaints," she said.

"On several occasions I have been told, 'it's up to you to make alternative arrangements'."

Catherine works as a nurse and her husband also works full time.

She said that makes it difficult to bring Andrew to school, 25 minutes away.

"By the time I get down into work that's me already half an hour late. What am I supposed to say to my patients? I have a duty of care," said Catherine.

"I can't understand why there is no duty of care for the Education Authority."

She said she also can't bring Andrew to school earlier because the school doesn't open until 08:45 GMT.

"Am I just supposed to leave him to walk around Ballymena by himself? A vulnerable 15-year-old child."

Catherine said the EA was not honouring the arrangements outlined in Andrew's Special Educational Needs statement.

"Special educational needs children are treated like second class citizens," she added.

The EA has apologised for the disruption and any breakdown in communication.

In a letter to the family, the organisation blamed "a shortage of drivers but also a shortage of vehicles" within the fleet.

"It is becoming even more difficult to ensure our services remain operational when we encounter staff absences and vehicle breakdowns."

In a statement to the BBC, the EA said it was working to minimise any further disruption as far as possible.

"We can confirm that the service is currently operational, but unfortunately, due to staff sickness, mechanical issues and recent poor weather conditions, we were unable to transport children who use the service on a number of occasions."

A spokesperson said every effort is made to reinstate the service quickly or put in place contingency arrangements when issues arise.

"Where this isn't possible, our team will immediately try to contact parents/carers to make them aware but, regrettably, issues may occur out of hours or at very short notice which can make it difficult to do so."

The spokesperson added that the EA "recognise the impact the disruption can have on the learning and routine of pupils" and are "committed to further developing contingency plans" and improving communications with families.

Catherine highlighted the problem in a video on social media and said she has received messages from other parents with similar frustrations.

"Some of the children are wheelchair users and some other parents don't have vehicles and they don't drive.

"If that bus does not turn up, their children are not getting the education that they need.

"They need the stimulation, they need that routine," she added.