How should I handle this situation with a mentally handicapped child?

Question

I take home a kid in a cab from school (will b taking him home from school soon) and he is mentally handicapped. He is 15 years old, and has a mind of a 7 year old. His behavior is very annoying in my cab. I do have permission from my boss to raise my voice at him if I need to, which I do not like doing. He also distrubs his classmates. He talks about movies that involves shooting and killing (His mother allows him to watch such trash), which I do not want to hear, and he gets mad at me when I tell him that I do not want to hear it. He also taps my shoulder while I am driving, and I yelled at him for tapping my shoulder while driving, and he tells me his mother allows him to tap her shoulder while she is driving. I only assume his mother 'babys" him, because he never behaves properly in m cab. He also likes to play with the buttons, and stick his arms out the window while I am going 25MPH. When school starts next year, can I set some rules with the kid?

Answer 1

This sounds dangerous for both you and other kids. Its unacceptable to mix her with normal kids. He should be travelling with disabled kids where there are safetey measures in their transport, because it seems like he is just empty minded. He has no mind at all because at 3 we obey what our mother's and teacher's tell us to do. You should insist to your boss to find solution.

Answer 2

This child is going to drive you out of your mind. You can't even get him home without becoming annoyed and yelling at him.

Right now, he's testing you to see what you'll put up with. He also wants to see what he can do to really irritate you. When you are with him consistently, you can set some rules, but you're going to have to go over and over and over them before they stick.

I have a PDD child who at one time had a personality 5 years younger than his body. If we had no expectations of him, weren't surprised when rules weren't followed, we were fine. But it's hard when you ask a 15 yo to set the table and come back and it's not done. He's playing with his cars on the floor.

Sometimes charts and rewards were helpful, time-outs for punishment. My husband tells him what to do, and tells him again, if necessary. But on the third try, we have the "yelling and screaming game." The kids will do whatever they have to do to get away from that.

It would be good to establish with the child that you are NOT his mother, and that you have different rules from his mother. When he's with you, there's no tapping the driver because it might make him have a wreck. Instead, we get to play with this toy that we keep in the bus just for you.

I hope I'm helpful. I'm behind you!

Answer 3

Even if he is mentally handicapped it is very important that you set ground rules with the child. Since mom does not ride in the cab with him. It is up to you as a driver to set the ground rules. Just like a bus driver would.

I would stop the yelling because it will only get worse the easier it is for you to lose your temper the worse it is for you. I know someone that had a very bad run in and the driver and later was recorded yelling and telling him to Shut up. So it is hard for you as the driver you can face alot of problems if this happens. Not saying you do this but had to say.

Be prepared for next year. Ask your boss if it would be okay to make a contract with the mother since she is using your service to lay some ground rules for all of you. That way she feels she is contributing and has say so. I do not understand if you are a local taxi or a school cab.

Since your boss gave you premiss ion to raise your voice. You know your service will be requested again next year. Be prepared. You can in advance have your boss send her a contract expressing that she explains the rules to her child.For his safety along with his drivers. It is legal and it is a request that she has him learn as well as makes her understand that if she does not comply you do not have to as a company send your cab to pick him up anymore. It is a service and he needs to learn the rules.As well as mom needs to make sure he is a good boy. If that is not going to work for you.

Set the ground rules with him. Make sure you make short solid commands and a list that he can look at on the way. To much info may be hard for him to comprehend. Reinforce these rules everyday before you two leave on the road.

Express compassion and concern first.
Tell him this year you are old enough to learn the rules of the cab this year. He is not a little boy anymore he is getting bigger and needs to learn the rules of the road.
1. buckle your seat belt.
2. I am not your mom or your dad. Please keep your hands and fingers to your self.
3. No yelling in the Cab.
4. Cab time is quite time. (that way you can dis accocate yourself and not be so involved in his life)
or
5. No talking to the driver while cab is in moving
or
6. No arms or heads out the window It is a safety hazard he could be hurt. (even if you are only going 25)


He needs to learn the rules. You have the right as a driver to in force the safety policy to him. His mother needs to be aware of the cab safety rules so she can go over them with her son.
Best of Luck

Answer 4

He does have some concept of something, if he has the mentality of a 7 year old, as to the tapping on the shoulder while driving, as you would do with a 7 year old, set boundaries, fist let him know you are not his Mother and will not tolerate what you will not tolerate while he is in your cab. God Bless.

Answer 5

If he has the mind of a 7 yr old then he knows how to behave like one which he is doing. He needs to be told not to do things or you wont give him a ride anymore. (though mentally challenged , he will get this one trust me) He needs to be made to behave. You will probably have to raise your voice at him but you wont have to yell at him if you are stern. Tell him that you wont allow talk (about the killings and that) when he is in your cab. If he gets mad at you, oh well, who is the adult here? Talk to his mother also and let her know how he is behaving and that it wont be tolerated. There is no need to let a child run you or your job. You may have to also stop the cab and turn to face him when you talk to him and tell/ask him, " I will not tolerate that behavior, do you understand me?" Make him answer you.

Answer 6

Of course. This child may be mentally challenged, but that doesn't mean he is anything special! 7 year olds don't even act in that immature manner. Tell him to stop doing all of this or he will not be allowed in your cab anymore! Maybe ask your boss first before you say this. Just don't let the kid walk all over you like that. I still cannot believe that is how he acts!

Answer 7

lay the rule down guy. I agree with story time mom that you need to give a list maybe put it up for the ride. He can read. No job in the world is worth having to put up with someones child that does not set the ground rules for the child.

Tell your boss to pick him up lol.

Answer 8

the reward system, set him down and tell him what the rules are and why they are that way, and if he will obey for one week at a time at the end of the week you will buy him a ice cream or ask him what kind of rewards he likes, it may take some out of your pocket, but it would be well worth the peace you gain by it...also make sure mom knows the rules and ask for her support telling her it is for the saftey of her child...I had a customer like this when I drove taxi and it worked very well...

Answer 9

Well my daughter is only 4 months but I have worked with children before, and I would just tell them, "it's not nice to say things about people out loud" and maybe explain to them "not everybody is from this place, some people are from other places where they have a different way of talking, that is their way of talking, it's not a handicap"

Answer 10

I dont see why not as long as you phrase them in a way a 7 year old would understand.