(haipo) - A student from Haifa with special needs who is supposed to be in the 5th grade this year, cannot attend the school where he attends, due to problems regarding his transportation there. His father tells Live Here that all his attempts are to reach the person in charge of transportation in the municipality, or to talk to someone In the municipality that he will help to solve the difficulty, they are not bearing fruit. In the meantime, the child is sitting at home.
The school in Migdal Hamek
"We are ultra-Orthodox and live in the Hadar neighborhood," the father explains painfully. "We were looking for a special education school for my son that operates in our stream, so that it would give the child the values we believe in. We found a Torah Talmud in Migdal Ha'Emek. For the past two years, a bus would come to take the boy to school in Migdal Ha'Emek every morning. Three other girls would travel with him, Bigger than him. A big car with 3 seats would arrive, which would take everyone to school."
"The child can't travel like that as far as we're concerned"
"This year," says the father, "a few days before the start of the school year, my son's chaperone, who has been with him for the past two years, told my wife that one of the girls will no longer ride in the shuttle, so we are switching to a regular car, with only 5 seats. This means that my son You have to sit in the back, next to two girls. We are ultra-Orthodox, for us there is no possibility that he will go to Migdal Ha'emek like that. My wife informed me about the situation, that the boy will have to sit together with the girls, when they are close to each other."
"It is difficult to describe our frustration and sorrow"
According to the father, he called the municipality many times, but was unable to speak with the person in charge of transportation, despite his many attempts. "From the moment I realized my son had no way to get to school, I didn't stop calling the municipality. They told me the name of the person responsible for transportation, and I tried repeatedly to reach him, without success. Then I thought maybe they would help me through public inquiries. I called and they answered me really very nice facts and with a very good desire to help. I explained to them that the school year is almost starting and it is very important for my son to start the school year together with his classmates. They promised me that the same day the person responsible for the transportation would get back to me, but unfortunately it didn't happen. I really can't explain my wife's and my frustration and my son's grief over the situation that has arisen."
"My son is in emotional distress because of the situation"
According to the father, the situation causes severe emotional distress to his son, and that he himself does not understand how it is possible that no one in the municipality gives him any information, just so he knows where things stand. "I've been trying to get hold of someone for two weeks, just for them to give me an explanation about what's going on. My son is currently unable to get to his school, and I feel that it doesn't matter to anyone. What are they so busy with, that none of the employees can get back to me and give me an answer? "
Very sad. I hope that the education administration of the Haifa municipality will deal with this issue immediately. Shabbos Shalom.
Very sad.
I would check option:
*Sue the Haifa municipality.
** Try to get help with transportation from one of the charities that transport the disabled, until there is a solution.
*** Contact the Child Welfare Council
****Publish the case in all the written press, in all sectors.. Maybe a righteous person will rise in Sodom??
My heart is with you, good luck
Contact a rabbi who will give permission for a boy to sit next to a girl. The rabbi is supposed to find solutions to this situation.