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<\/p>\nQUEENS, New York (WABC) — An 11-year-old Queens student with special needs was left without school bus transportation on the first day of school Tuesday, forcing her parents to drive her nearly an hour to her school in Nassau County.<\/p>\n
Paige Bergin, a sixth grader at the Henry Viscardi School, had looked forward to returning to class.<\/p>\n
“I just love going to school,” she said.<\/p>\n
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According to her family, the school bus assigned to pick her up never arrived at their Queens home Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
“She looking like what time is it? Are they here yet? Go look and see if they’re coming up the block,” her mother, Marianne Bergin, said.<\/p>\n
Marianne Bergin said transportation problems have been an ongoing issue for students with special needs.<\/p>\n
“It’s a common thing that the buses aren’t provided for kids like Paige with special needs,” she said.<\/p>\n
Paige attends the Henry Viscardi School, which her parents chose because they value its programs and services. The school is located in Nassau County, and the commute can take nearly an hour each way in rush-hour traffic.<\/p>\n
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Without school bus service, Paige’s parents said they must drive her to and from school themselves, adding hours to their daily schedule.<\/p>\n
When Marianne Bergin arrived at the school with Paige on Tuesday morning, she said she learned other students also had transportation problems.<\/p>\n
“I find that unacceptable. That out of all these kids that are there, there are 19 students that have to find their own way to school that day that are in wheelchairs, walkers, have multiple disabilities and their parents are on their own,” said Patrick Bergin, Paige’s father.<\/p>\n
The New York City Department of Education is responsible for Paige’s transportation. A request for comment from the department has not yet been returned.<\/p>\n
Paige’s parents said they have been told the transportation issue may not be resolved for weeks.<\/p>\n
“It’s not fair to her. She has the right to have an education. She has the right to be transported there… she deserves that just like any other child does,” Marianne Bergin said.<\/p>\n
The family said they hope a transportation solution is found quickly so Paige can continue attending school without interruption.<\/p>\n
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