Bus strike weighs on disabled students and their parents
Posted:
Updated:
By TI-HUA CHANG, Fox 5 News Reporter
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
It was a chaotic scene this afternoon outside the Viscardi School for children with disabilities in Nassau County. Because of the school bus strike students from New York City who normally are driven here by bus with a driver and a medically trained matron have had to find new transportation. That is not easy for the families of the severely disabled students who Attend Viscardi.
Chayy Amattie uses two different ambulette services from the Lower East Side to bring her son Malke here for school.
Viscardi, a state and privately funded school, provides unique schooling for children with disabilities. It is filled with special equipment and has intense supervision. Only 30 of the usual 100 students from New York City have been able to attend class here during the bus strike.
Some parents say have to skip work and worried about losing jobs.
Tracy Ehrlich's daughter Hanna has cerebral palsy and must be supervised constantly. So far she has been car pooled because another student's father is unemployed and can drive them, otherwise it s's $250 a day for transportation. Tracy blames the mayor, saying that he has no idea what students going through parents going through.
The city has provided vouchers to pay for ambulettes. But so far there are not enough ambulettes to drive the students to Viscardi.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg has consistently noted this is a dispute between the bus drivers and the bus companies not the city of New York.
The department of education said it has been meeting with the Viscardi school and are working together on a variety of transportation options for the students affected.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:01 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:01:11 GMT
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:08 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:08:29 GMT
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-05-23 01:46:23 GMT
The New York City Police Department says it is beefing up security at the British consulate, military recruiting stations and other locations due to an apparent terror attack in London.
The New York City Police Department says it is beefing up security at the British consulate, military recruiting stations and other locations due to an apparent terror attack in London.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:44 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:44:14 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:15:21 GMT
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:55:01 GMT
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
WTXF-TV 330 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-2796
