An autistic boy, one of 15 autistic children taking part in a field trip, was recently removed from a Halifax bus following what the transit authority described as disruptive behavior, piercing screams by the boy. The Canadian Press reports a difference of opinion over whether the boy was ordered to get off the bus by the driver, as alleged by his father, or whether the boy and his counselor left the bus voluntarily, as alleged by the transit authority spokesperson. The transit authority maintains an investigation is still ongoing even though it has already concluded that the boy was not ordered off the bus.
I find it unlikely that the boy and his counselor simply got off the bus without being either directed to get off ..... or being pressured to get off. The transit spokesperson has stated that the bus driver did not order the boy off the bus:
"The spokeswoman said images recorded by a surveillance camera aboard the bus indicate the driver told a counsellor that he couldn't keep driving unless Izaak's "piercing" outbursts stopped.
The spokeswoman quoted the driver as saying, "I can't drive if that keeps up."
"He said he was concerned that he couldn't continue to drive the bus because it was distracting."
Patterson said the driver did not ask to have the boy removed, and it appeared Izaak and his counsellor left the bus voluntarily."
If you accept the transit authority's position then it still seems likely to me that the counselor would have interpreted the driver's statement as an indication that the boy would have to be removed from the bus since they might not have been able to guarantee he would not continue with the screaming. I do not believe they felt that the boy's continued presence was wanted on the bus.
I am the father of a 13 year old boy with Autistic Disorder. He loves going for drives, even long drives, and is generally quiet and well behaved. There are times though, including yesterday, when his behavior could be described as "distracting". Sometimes he does engage in piercing screams, although they usually subside. Sometimes he pulls my hair or tries to grab my arm. When he does these things he is seated directly behind me; in close proximity. He is closer to me, arms's reach, then a boy on a bus would be to the driver.
I don't have the luxury of refusing to drive my son. I have to focus on the road despite any "distracting" behavior he might engage in. I don't know if the driver in question knew he would be driving a group of autistic children or whether the transit authority knew. It seems that the driver in question, accepting the transit authority's position on what was said, is not familiar with autism disorders and should not be driving autistic children without further training.
Anyone driving autistic children should be prepared to drive with some "distraction". As the father of a 13 year old boy with Autistic Disorder I know this, from experience, to be true.
autism
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق