450 families of disabled children deprived of school transport at the start of the school year

At the start of the next school year, the Loire-Atlantique departmental council will no longer cover school transport for 450 families of disabled children, reports France Bleu Loire Océan. The measure concerns families whose child attends school less than five kilometers from home in elementary school, and less than ten in middle school.

These families will instead receive a mileage allowance, based on their tax income. “No doubt there will be times when we will have to choose between working or taking Louise to school”testify to France Bleu Loire Océan the parents of a little girl suffering from Down syndrome, “That would cause us to lose almost 45 minutes in the morning and afternoon, depending on traffic.”

The general director of solidarity at the department, Cécile Chollet, says she understands “personal organizational concerns”. But she argues that between 2018 and 2024, the number of students transported increased by 29%: “It seemed fairer to support the families who are furthest away, it was more equitable even if I understand that it does not pay for the time spent making this trip for the shortest distances.”

An online petition has been launched by parents of disabled children. It currently has nearly 3,000 signatures.