Why are people so cruel?????!!! What's the proper thing to do in this situation????

Question

I am in college, and live on campus. Since our campus is so huge, students frequently have to rely on the campus shuttle buses to get us back and forth to our destinations. Some of the shuttle bus drivers are nice, but some of them are just downright nasty. There is a girl that lives here in my dorm who is handicap and in a weelchair, and has to rely on the buses to get her back and forth to her destination. She doesn't have a motorized wheelchair, and is often too weak to roll her own chair long distances, so she has no choice but to ride the buses. Unfortunately the drivers that drive the shuttle bus on the route she has to take, are very mean to her. They will make up excuses as to why they can't pick her up, and often lie about the lift on the bus for wheelchairs being messed up, so that they don't have to get their lazy selves out of the bus to help her wheel her chair onto the lift. She also has to be strapped in at the back of the bus so as not to fall, and this also

is why they don't want to pick her up. So they make excuses, and page other bus drivers to come get her, sometimes letting her sit out waiting for long periods of time. My friend and I know this girl, and we also know the one NICE bus driver that actually cares about this girl, and takes the time to pick her up and help her onto the bus with her chair. The driver was recently very angry because she says the girl was waiting outside one NIGHT alone and the bus driver that drives along her route made an excuse as to why she couldn't pick the girl up, and so the girl had to wait for a long time outside by herself, so that they could page someone to come and pick her up. This is all because they are being lazy and she is actually not the only handicapped person they do this too. I truly wish I was lying or making this up, but in this case I am not. I think it is very sad, and have no idea what to do. What can we do? My friend is talking about writing about it in the paper.

People have complained and the manager told the drivers that it doesn't matter what route it is, if they see her they need to pick her up and take her where she needs to go. Unfortunately, they don't listen and it is STILL going on. This has been happening for months now.

Nope the drivers aren't students. They are all older adults and the school has a contract with the company they work for.

And sorry for just referring to her as "the girl" I was just pretty pissed when writing. Her name is Jill. :-)

I can't decide a best answer because you have all been very helpful. I'm going to put it to a vote and thank you. My friend and I are going to do whatever we can to help her out of this situation.

Answer 1

What I would do is set up a meeting with whoever runs the school, I am not in college yet, but I think it's the Dean. Set up a meeting with him/her and tell them what is happening, because they need to start catering to the needs of Jill and the other handicaps either by switching companies or getting a company that will only cater to handicaps, this is unbelievable cruel! Good luck.

Answer 2

Tell Jill to log the times she has had to wait for another bus because the bus driver will not pick her up. Take this to the dean, explaining to him/her what is going on. If you know the name of the company the school hires for this, call the company and talk to the manager and let him/her know that if this continues to happen, She will have no choice but to hire a lawyer and file discrimination charges. When she does this, also have her send the company a copy of the log of the times she has had to wait. Tell them in a letter she is sending them a copy and her lawyer a copy, send it certified mail so you know they got it. They will than start taking her seriously, and should put an end to this situation. I had to do this to a company that was in charge of a rental where i lived. The second story balcony was falling apart and i told them if they did not get it fixed they were going to be held responsible if anybody got hurt. Never really hired a lawyer, but they didn't know that. It worked too. They had in fixed the same week. Tell Jill i am sorry some people treat her this way. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior.

Answer 3

You could stage a protest, talk everyone in your dorm, and as many other students as you can, into waiting out with her and when the bus stops stand back to make sure she is accommodated first... if they start the usual excuses then inform the driver that since the bus is obviously broken that all of the students will wait for the next bus.. the one that will accommodate everyone. Do this every day until the point is made.

Get together a petition within the college for the college to change bus companies, and state plainly why in the petition. Nothing speaks to a business like the threat of loosing money.

Answer 4

If I were you, I would report these incidences to the manager of the campus bus shuttle. If you can remember times and dates, that could be useful. State not all bus drivers do this and if you know the name of the nice driver, mention he is the only one who picks Jill up.

This is a situation that needs to be corrected asap.

No one should be treated that way. It's the bus driver's job to pick students up no matter if they are wheel chair bound or mobile.

Answer 5

Well thank you for being so kind and thoughtful to your friend. I shattered my leg in an accident in Feb of '06 and i had to use a wheelchair just like your friend for about 6 months.

First of all I would report them to the school administration. It is against the law under the American disability act to discriminate against someone like your friend (that is exactly what they are doing). I am assuming that your school subcontracts the transportation services to a company that hires these drivers (The name of the company is probably on the driver's Uniforms).

For the next few days have your friend take the shuttle and if the driver will not take her for whatever reason, take down the name of the driver (If he won't give it you that's okay) the license plate of the bus, and the time and location where she was refused. Then go to your school administration and they will HAVE to do something.

If they do not, e-mail the state attorney general's office. Trust me, your friend will never have this problem again!

Answer 6

I would contac the bus company, I would also speak with someone in the office of your campus, as well as the next time you see this happen...ask the driver what the problem is and offer to help the girl ..Jill get onto the bus if the driver refuses, make a specticle of the driver and embarrass them as they do to her in an ongoing basis. Maybe this way the driver will realize how big of a jerk they are being. Jill deserves to be on that bus as any other student, I would make sure the driver knew this as well. If need be , do put it in the paper, squeaky wheel gets the grease!! I do wish you luck with this as well as Jill, she i am sure deals with more than enough in her life than to have to deal with an idiot like that.

Answer 7

1st call the bus company and talk to whoever is in charge, manager/supervisor, whatever. Let them know what's going on and ask what is going to be done about it.

2nd find out who runs this particular bus company...the city, the University? Call the City Building, Mayor's office AND the University president and inform them of what's been going on (call them all no matter who's in charge...they should all be aware of this issue). Find out who you can file a formal complaint to (have the names from step #1 handy so that you can say you already spoke with "Mr. B" regarding this situation).

3rd writing into the Editorial sections of the City Newspaper AND the College Newspaper is a fine idea. One of the reasons we have a "Free Press" is to inform the public. Informing them about the atrocities of this Bus Company is a great service to the public. They should know what's going on.

4th Don't stop. Follow through on all of the different avenues I've listed to insure that something does actually get done about this.

And, thank you for being such a kind & caring person. You are doing the right thing. Good for you!

Answer 8

Does your campus have a dept that specializes in helping students like Jill? If so, this dept needs to be notified that the bus drivers are not doing their jobs. Jill may have grounds for a law suit.

Is it possible for the dept (in my college it used be called Handicapped Services, now it's called something else- more P.C.), to help Jill get a motorized chair? Also, she may be able to get an assistant, one that will help her get around campus?

Jill shouldn't take this abuse. It's not fair and you're right, it's incredibly rude and cruel. I hope she gets some action.

Answer 9

There is absolutely no excuse for this kind of behavior! I would:
a) Check out the office for student transportation, if able - and complain your *** off! Get other student's testimonies, sign a petition, etc etc...make all the noise you can.

or

b) Go directly to the Dean and/or School President. When I was at Kent State, most of the bus drivers were students...if your college is the same way this is a quick way to get the administration's attention.

Also going to the school newspaper with an editorial is a good idea. The idea is that if they refuse to change, embarrass the hell out 'em!

Answer 10

Jill should talk to whomever is in charge of the contract for the shuttle herself. She can let them know that the Americans With Disabilities Act does not allow for this type of treatment and the campus can be sanctioned for not fixing the problem. Most colleges receive State and Federal moneys and that money can be threatened if they cannot take care of someone who truely needs the help. It sounds as though Jill has enough to deal with and shouldn't have to feel like she is burdened by a person who is paid to help her in the first place.......................