Bus firm says sorry for driver's slur
TRANSPORT firm Stagecoach has apologised after one of its drivers allegedly insulted a woman and her autistic child.
Full-time mum and carer Karen Cook was travelling from her home in Gainsborough to Scunthorpe when her son, Jayden Webster-Cook, became distressed.
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NOT NAUGHTY: Karen Cook and her autistic son Jayden Webster-Cook at Gainsborough bus station after a transport firm apologised for a driver allegedly branding him a "naughty" boy.
Jayden, 7, suffers from autism, a condition which leaves him confused and frightened when he is in situations he is not familiar with. He also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He began to feel stressed while travelling and pressed the bell to stop the bus "as a coping mechanism".
The driver of the bus is alleged to have branded him a "naughty boy" and to have said that his mother should "control him better".
Despite Jayden being stopped from pressing the bell by his mum, the driver is then alleged to have said "I had a good day until you got on the bus".
The alleged incident happened on the number 100 bus at about 12.30pm on August 12.
Stagecoach has now apologised, saying they had "spoken to the driver formally".
Miss Cook said: "It was a very distressing incident for both of us and I was just shocked the driver would speak to us like that.
"I wanted an apology for that kind of behaviour, but I also wanted an assurance that this wouldn't happen to anyone else."
Dad Jonathan Webster said: "I feel this is disgusting and completely unacceptable, although Stagecoach, to their credit, were helpful when we made a complaint."
Stagecoach East Midlands commercial director Dave Skepper said: "We are aware of the incident and we have spoken to the driver involved formally and we have issued an apology to the parents.
"We welcome people to travel with us and we provide a public service, including to people with disabilities.
"Our 100 service linking Lincoln, Gainsborough and Scunthorpe is a low-floor service to provide wheelchair access.
"We also provide training to our drivers on helping and assisting disabled passengers and that includes those with hearing impairments, people who are blind, people who may use a wheelchair and people with a mental disability."
If people experience difficulty in using Stagecoach services, they should call 0845 6050605.
5 Comments
by KM Cook, Gainsborough
Wednesday, October 06 2010, 4:56PM
“I am happy in the knowledge that their are some supporting comments and thank you. For all the time wasting, hypocritical judgemental unaware people, I have completed early birsdclasses and have done well at these and even come towards top of the class. For all of the complainers, I agree with T Wood, I bet they wouldn't have a clue and think it is good to belittle my son and I, who is great and it isn't his fault, he is not naughty, the bus was stationery, this is an actual fact. And any negative comments, well, what can I say, get a life!!!”
by Karen Cook, Gainsborough
Wednesday, October 06 2010, 4:55PM
“I am happy in the knowledge that their are some supporting comments and thank you. For all the time wasting, hypocritical , judgemental unaware people, I have completed early bird classes and have done well at these and even come towards top of the class. For all of the complainers, I agree with T Wood, I bet they wouldn't have a clue and think it is good to belittle my son and I, who is great and it isn't his fault, he is not naughty, the bus was stationery, this is an actual fact. And any negative comments, well, what can I say, get a life!!!”
by bumble2010, yorkshire
Sunday, September 05 2010, 9:49PM
“Nicola, have u considered that this mother may well have been at the end of her tether. You say she needs help, have u any idea how difficult it is to recieve support or help for a child with autism? It can take years of assesments and even then can result in no help. The mother prob didnt respond as she will be be stressed/tired/a child with autisn can need constant 1-1 and may only need 3 hours sleep a night, imagine how responsive u would be after years of doing that and having to listen to judgmental comments every time u step out the house. Its not as simple as saying she should control her child, if u knew anything about autism u would know that it is not as easy as that. Would u expect a blind person to see or a deaf person to hear for your convienience? No thought not, then why do u expect a child with autism, a very real and debilitating disability not to display autistic behaviour?”
by parentdownsou, Down South
Sunday, September 05 2010, 9:42AM
“You ignorant pair!! by the very nature a child who has autism (and ADHD) is difficult to control! parents get extremely stressed and dread going out because of the lack of understanding from other people. I've been in exactly the same position as this lady, my eldest son used to hate confined spaces run up and down the corridor when at the GPs. Snatch toys out of other children's hands. because he just didn't understand! I was mortified but he had no 'empathy' with other children or people. He's learned that as he's got older but he's needed a great deal of support to do it. Every child with autism is different. Do you think that mother enjoyed that trip to the doctors or being judged on the bus?? I mean he's the first child EVERY to press a bell on a bus isn't he! I suggest you both take a moment to 1) think that your child could develop this condition, or another and you may find yourselves in that very same boat
2) take a minute to walk in the shoes of parents and these children
3) why on earth couldn't you have the balls to say, I'm a bit concerned about the baby would you mind if I took him/her into another room if you were that worried? poking a pram is hardly an arrestible offence though, strange as it may seem to you!
4) my message to the mum of the lad concerned is to get every bit of help you are offered, and you may have a battle on your hands. Ask for Direct Payments so someone can accompany you on trips out and things. You will have to fight but it will be worth it.
My son is now nearly 20, has a girlfriend and is at Uni. His behaviour really tore me apart at times but I am immensely proud of him. As for these two, I suggest you prepare yourself for the terrible twos! being a parent isn't easy at the best of times, but being a parent of a child with special needs is really HARD. Let's hope you never get to find out?”
by p1ssed off parent, Gainsborough
Friday, September 03 2010, 8:09PM
“My partner was in the doctors surgery today and this child was allowed to run free creating chaos and even running and charging upto my newborn daughter poking, pointing and pullinbg her pushchair like a demented dog that had been let loose and the mother had absolutely no control whatsoever, i completely agree with the bus driver as even though i have sympathy for parents in this kind of situation she seems to have no grasp/ concept nor control over her son EVEN THOUGH he had a wheelchair, and even reigns to be held back with!! Probably not as much the lad's fault but more the fault of his "Head in the clouds" i'll turn and look the other way so im not embarrassed mother!!!”