Posted By Tony Brunskill
Jan,

I have some experience in this area. Passengers are legally required to wear a seat belt. What is more with kids (or others) who may through their disability attack the driver, should wear a restraint harness that properly restrains them so as to ensure the safety of themselves and other road users. Some Taxi companies (Few) provide these as a service but more commonly they are provided from private or public funds and available to the child as they move from vehicle to vehicle. Remember with many of these disorders the duty of care may be extended.

Good luck,

Tony

Posted By Glyn Atkinson
In my spare time, I am the chair of a club that gives adults with various forms of learning disabilities and handicaps a chance to enjoy a social life one night per week during term times. The club is loosely associated with a local college - past students etc.

Every bus trip that we take them out on has a separate risk assessment to take account of different groups of attendees and their needs. We have wheelchair users, sufferers with Aspergers' syndrome, varying forms of mental and physical disabilities.

The point of this mail is to make Jan aware that all persons who have any form of disability are human beings with particular needs, and these people cannot be pigeon holed into a single assessment of "belt up" or "can't get out of bed in a morning". They may have an eye disorder against daylight or have set routines that they cannot break out of with their conditions - each being an individual.

Back to the college connection - they use two set taxi firms who have in house training to help with student requirements - once training is complete, they have a VERY lucrative contract that no one else can take off them for a set period.

They are also used on our club nights to take our members home and to and from outside social events, pubs, restaurants, ten pin bowling etc, so you can see that it is in THEIR financial interests to keep these contracts.

We, as a club, then also have the knowledge of safe transport and assistance for the members at either end of their journeys.

The taxi firms then use this college training to offer assistance for pupil transportation to feeder schools who have special needs children, and the scheme is monitored thorugh the local LEA.

This scheme works locally for us, and could be a way to solve your transport problems - but please show some consideration for those being moved around - they are still human beings, not lumps to transport !!

Rant over !

Yes, I care, I find myself defending my membership and others in similar situations when people have a poor understanding of the needs for those less fortunate than themselves.

Posted By Jan Moore
My message may have not been very clear. I am not specifically in charge of these children but am trying to work through a mess. Of course I understand Aspergers and elements of autism having a family member with Aspergers.
I posted the thread having taken some basic queries from the Home to School team and said I would seek advice. I am sorry if my first thread appeared critical, nothing was further from my mind. There are however some concerns that the expensive home to school and school to home run is taking into account truancy. I am sure you will understand where this is the case, the hard pressed members of the team I am working with are tearing their hair out.

Kind regards

Jan

Posted By Jan Moore
Thanks Ateeka. A very useful site.

Take care

Jan

Posted By Paul Durkin
Hi All,
New to this thread but,I have noticed other related threads.i.e.Kids travelling in cars;Company cars & new car rules on child restraints & Child car seats.
All have some very useful points.I would like to add WHICH? magazine as a reference,it selects child seats on the basis of safety not just cost.It also covers in its latest edition the new law from Sept 06(June 2006)
Regards exceptions & taxis :"On 'emergency'unplanned journeys where an appropriate restraint is not available;or where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitting of a third child seat.In these cases the adult seat should be used.
Regards enforcement it also states that:Police will be able to issue an on-the-spot fine of £30, or £500 if the case goes to court.So there is a definate encouragement to get it right !!
Regards,Paul

Posted By John Webster
Road traffic law is a reserved power for Westminster, as far as I can recall, ...so Yes is the answer.

Posted By Karl Newcombe
If anyone else would like to jump in, and tell me how they think this post reads. I am sure Jan didnt mean for this to come over this way, however it does read as if ALL children with Aspergers have behavier problems or cant be bothered to get out of bed.... I think!