There but for the grace of God, go I,,,,

I read a post last night on Age Of Autism...written by Kim S. about her beautiful daughter
being abused on her school bus by a person who thought it was okay to abuse a child with
autism.
This brought me back to when our oldest daughter, Caitlin, who started school 16 years ago.
I remember meeting the bus in my drive way and watching a woman yank my child out
of her car seat and scream at her to "get the hell out of the seat"....
I said to myself..."don't say a word...go inside and make the phone call"....over and over
again in my head. I mean...if this woman would do this in front of me...what was she
doing behind my back?
I went in the house and called the bus company and explained that if this person was on
the bus the next day...there would be trouble.
I then called the Principle of the school and stated that if this is what AISD hired for bus
attendants...we were going to have a problem.

Fast forward, 3 years later, my beautiful daughter came home from school with bruises
down her back. Come to find out...her teacher was abusing her.

We, as parent's have to trust the people we entrust our children to...unfortunately...these
people are not always Good People...they are evil.
A good person would not take advantage of someone who was unable to defend themselves...
someone who is adored at home and does not know that there are people out there that
could care less about them.

I hope my child(ren) do not think that I knew about this pain that would be put upon them...
I hope they know that I had NO idea that this was happening....after all... I put them on that
bus and in that classroom.

I know, at that time, my trust in the education system went out the window...
I just want to let Kim know....
We have had 5 more children go through the system...
our children have come in contact with many educators and bus drivers and attendants
who have adored and loved our children.....
Our faith has been restored...but, we are always leery of someone new who comes in
contact with our children....

I truly am sorry your daughter had to go through this....I am sorry you and your husband
had to feel the pain....
We really need to continue to fight for our children....and with us...it continues into
Adulthood...

When I go to bed each night, I thank God for my children....
I pray they are well protected and live long lives. I thank God for giving me the
precious gifts that he bestowed upon me....
I just wish every one saw our kids that way !!!!