PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Miriam Franco, Parent of a Child with Special Transportation Needs
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Miriam Franco, a parent of a child with special transportation needs, testified about the worsening issues with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) for children with IEPs. She shared her son Kevin's experience with inadequate bus services that fail to meet his medical accommodations and IEP requirements.
- Kevin has complex medical needs including a seizure disorder, requiring specific transportation accommodations.
- OPT changed Kevin's bus route without notice, increasing his daily travel time to nearly 4 hours, which can exacerbate his medical conditions.
- Despite multiple complaints filed with OPT, there has been no resolution to the transportation issues.
Miriam Franco
3:35:22
Good afternoon.
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I wanna thank this committee for allowing me to provide my testimony today.
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My name is Miriam Franco, and I am a parent.
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I am here today to state the worsening issues surrounding the the OPT for children with IEPs.
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Who require special transportation like my son, Kevin.
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Kevin has an IEP with medical accommodations due to his seizure disorder and complex medical needs.
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He requires a wheelchair accessible bus limited travel time accommodation, a bus parent, air conditioning.
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His transportation needs are not preferences.
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They are necessities for his safety and well-being.
Rima Izquierdo
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At the start of the
Miriam Franco
3:36:11
school year, I was hopeful.
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Kevin's route worked out well at the initial at the start of the school year.
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It was punctual and the right was within the time limits specified in his IEP.
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But OPT switched the route without prior notice adding an extra 45 minutes each way.
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Now Kevin is on the bus for nearly 4 hours a day.
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It is just it is this is not just an inconvenience.
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Extended travel times can exacerbate Kevin's medical conditions, increasing his health need.
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Despite filing complaints, I n c 1289429.
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I n c 1293395.
Dr. Cheryl Lawrence
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1297289.
Julie Won
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Miriam Franco
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5745-131-2526.
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With OPT, there has been no resolution.
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The Department of Education in OPT are not prioritizing the transportation needs of children like Kevin whose safety and well-being are legally protected by their IEPs.
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Parents like myself are left bearing the consequences of all PT's failures.
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We need accountability and action to ensure that children with IEPs who are entitled to specialize transportation receive the appropriate safe transportation they are mandated on their IPs.
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Thank you.
