South Shore mother says autistic son denied suitable school transport

A woman on Montreal's South Shoresays the Riverside School Board is denying her 10-year-old autisticson appropriateadapted transit twice a week to a nearby schoolbecause of what it would cost.

Carmelina Nicolettitold CBC Montrealher son, Massimiliano Renda, has been attending a gradual inclusion program at Boucherville Elementary Schoolfor the past four years.

"They all love him. He's doing very well. He's showing a lot of potential," she said.

Adapted transit to the schoolfor her son has always been provided by the English-language boarduntil this year, when Nicolettisaidthe board told her it was no longer an option for her son because of the cost.

Meanwhile,other children in her son's position are being provided with transit that meets their needs, Nicoletti said.

"Everychild has transport, except for my son."

Options offered

The board has offered Nicolettiother options, including transportation on a regular school bus, but that would be too stressfulforMassimiliano, givenhis disability, she said.

"He's hyper-sensitive," Nicolettisaid. "He would arrive anxious and unable to concentrate at school. We avoid him being in hallways and the cafeteria."

The board alsooffered to pay for a cab for Massimiliano to and from school, but Nicolettisaid shewould need to accompany him,and her workhours make that impossible.

Nicoletti said the only adapted-transit option she'sbeen offered would require Massimiliano to wait two hours at the school's daycare centre after classes.

The situationis now atthe point thatMassimilianodoesn't want to be a part of an inclusion program at Boucherville Elementary any longer, Nicoletti said.

"He thinks nobody wants him," shesaid."It's very frustrating, because they held him back. They practically sabotaged his year."

Riverside School Board told CBC Newsthat they have other options forNicoletti, but they want to discuss them with Nicolettifirst.