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HI (KITV) — The woman using the alias “grandma” is not looking for a fight, what she’s looking for is answers. Answers to why her granddaughter, under the alias “K,” she claims was not helped when she underwent a seizure on a bus ride home.
“She is now on seizure medication,” Grandma said. “Probably for the rest of her life.”
Seizures are one of the symptoms common to a condition called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or F.A.S.D. Grandma says “K” was coming home from Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School, and that ride, she says, could have been her last.
“The problem I’m having is they didn’t inform me of anything. Neither the aid, nor the bus driver,” Grandma expressed.“They didn’t take her out of her seat belt. They could have killed her.”
The school bus is operated by Roberts Hawaii, and contracted by the school. Despite having a health aid on board, Grandma says, she had no idea her granddaughter needed help.
“I sent my 34-year-old daughter out to see what was so long, and see why “K” wasn’t coming in the house, and she comes in the house carrying “K” in a seizure,” Grandma said.
Grandma says it may have been avoided if “K’s” symptoms she was feeling that day were caught early on, but it was already too late.
“They sent her to the health room, the health room people weren’t there. They send her back to her class, and her teacher puts her on the bus.”
According to Darlin Chen Scovell, an F.A.S.D advocate, she says response training is paramount for health aids.
“It’s a bus that handles and transports children with disabilities,” Scovell said. “I wonder what training they have.”
Because this disorder has been on the medical back burner, according to Dr. Ann Yabusaki, a medical and family therapist, she says it’s time to revisit training basics.
“It’s something that we need to be aware of that it’s effecting a huge portion of our kids, and without appropriate awareness, we’re not addressing the issues.”
Scovell adds, “They cannot be on a seat belt. So you have to hold their hand, you have to monitor their breathing so if they come out of it or not, depending what’s on the I.E.P, the doctor’s recommendations on how to care for the child should be followed, it could be fatal.”
As for Grandma, she says she won’t be pressing charges, but is pressing the state for more F.A.S.D. related support.
The Department of Education released a statement:
Student safety and well-being are the primary responsibility of all student transportation stakeholders. In the event of an accident or medical emergency on a school bus, all contracted transportation service providers must follow standard operating procedures.
The Hawaii State Department of Education is looking into this incident to ensure that all procedures were followed between the bus company, school and family.
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