The bus strike proved difficult for parents across the city, but it has been especially burdensome on those with special needs children.
Tchaka Ebron struggles with his own disability but now he has to drive his 6 year old autistic child to and from school as well.
“It’s been hell getting up in the morning fighting traffic to get down here,” Ebron said.
Four or five buses carried kids to and from the Rebecca School Wednesday. The drivers work for a non-striking union. But 20 some other busses didn’t show up because the drivers likely hit the picket lines.
“For our kids especially, routine, structure, knowing what to expect is really important for them and this has definitely thrown them off,” school Program Director Tina McCourt said.
McCourt said some of the children took much longer to settle into the day. But 30 percent of the 116 students didn’t make it to school at all because the kids couldn’t handle the change or the parents couldn’t manage it.
Eliza Factor and her husband each took off two hours from work. He dropped off their 9 year old and she picked him up.
“Luckily we have a car,” Factor said. “I don’t know what people do who don’t have a car. He can’t go on public transportation.”
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While many Crown Heights children were not affected by the Bus Strike since the Jofaz bus company, which services schools in our area, did not strike, there is a very important group of children in Crown Heights that were affected: the children with special needs.
The importance for these children to get to their schools is essential.
The Friendship Circle of Crown Heights is requesting that anyone that works or travels to Boro Park, Flatbush, Wiliamsburg or Manhattan and is willing to
drive a child with special needs to school, to please contact the
Friendship Circle ASAP.
Please contact 718 907 8835 or Berel@FCBrooklyn.com and we will pair you up.
