Eli loves the bus: now he can travel on it every day
A student at Ben Lomond Public School has benefitted from a unique solution getting to and from school.
27 September 2024
A Northern Tablelands family who was struggling to get their child with disability to school on the bus is breathing a sigh of relief after a unique accessible transport solution was found.
The Andrews family lives about 40 minutes from Ben Lomond Public School and while their older two children catch the bus, it was not so easy for 7-year-old Eli, who has autism and is non-verbal.
His mother Emma said Eli loved catching the bus but would get very excited and often jump up and move around the vehicle, which posed a danger.
Without support, it was not possible for Eli to catch the school bus, so Mrs Andrews had to drive him and his siblings to school every day.
Mrs Andrews spoke with Glen Innes Coaches about the situation, which is contracted by Transport for NSW to provide the Ben Lomond school bus run.
Transport worked with the company and the NSW Department of Education to come up with a unique solution - installing a five-point harness child seat on the bus and providing a carer to accompany Eli on journeys.
Glen Innes Coaches co-owner Lorraine Velcich said it was a simple and practical concept but took quite a lot of time and effort to come to fruition.
The school bus operated by Glen Innes Coaches had no anchor points, so it was not as simple as putting a child seat in a car.
The company trialled the concept in another bus which had anchor points, then retrofitted the Ben Lomond school bus and installed the seat.
The Department also provided a part-time carer to accompany Eli on the school bus run.
Transport for NSW facilitated minor changes to the bus service contract and covered the cost of retrofitting the bus with the seat to enable Eli and his carer to join the bus at a suitable location.
Ms Velcich said it was a simple but innovative solution giving Eli a chance to ride the bus with his siblings and school mates every day.
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