Enfield News
Special needs boy removed from school after transport denied
9:30am Monday 22nd March 2010
A DISABLED father has removed his special needs son from school after his applications for transport assistance were repeatedly turned down.
Allan Wilkins says he has no choice but to keep his 13-year-old son at home because Enfield Council have refused to provide a special bus for him.
Allan Junior (AJ) has special educational needs (SEN) and his parents say he often gets bullied when taking the public school bus.
He used to cycle the 1.6 miles to Aylands School, in Keswick Drive, but he was attacked and his bicycle stolen in January.
His father has adult sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair, and his mother acts as his full-time carer, so they are unable to take him.
The council turned down the family's applications because they live within three miles of the school and the son has "no mobility issues".
Mr Wilkins, 38, from Broadfield Square, said: "We asked for help with transport, but were turned down just because we don't live over three miles from the school.
"They don't look at the family situation if you're disabled and base it entirely on distance.
"It's disgusting. My son has been attacked three times on his way home, once when his bike was stolen, so it's not safe for him to get the bus.
"It's as if they are discriminating against disabled people."
Mr Wilkins withdrew AJ from school at the end of January. Two weeks ago he arranged for a taxi to take his son on Mondays and Fridays, at a cost of £10 each day, but says he cannot afford to do this more than twice a week.
Council spokeswoman Laura Berryman confirmed the applications had been refused and the case had been referred to the council's assistant director for early intervention and access, Eve Stickler.
She added: "The family does not meet the distance criterion of living over three miles away and nor are there any mobility issues for Allan.
"We have given careful consideration to the family circumstances, including the fact the father is disabled and the mum is his carer.
"However, we are not persuaded the family cannot make arrangements for Allan's attendance at school.
"The family claims he is at risk of being bullied on his way to school and we are trying to help in this respect by asking his school if his arrival and departure times could be suitably altered to enable him to avoid contact with other children on their way to school."