Israeli Parents Demand Extended School Transportation for Special Needs Children After Activities End

Audrey Tao, a 13-year-old girl from Givatayim with a rare degenerative syndrome affecting motor and cognitive functions, attends the "On" school in Tel Aviv, which serves children with complex disabilities and cerebral palsy from the Gush Dan area. The official school day ends at 3:30 p.m., but many special needs children, including Audrey, require supervision beyond this time. Although the school offers an after-school program, the Ministry of Education-funded transportation departs immediately at the official end of the school day, forcing parents like Audrey's mother, Miki Tao, to leave work early to pick up their children.

Miki Tao, who raises Audrey alone, describes the situation as a significant loss of work hours and income, stating, "It means either not working or reducing to part-time." Despite years of advocacy, the Ministry of Education insists that transportation is provided only at the official school day's end, arguing that additional trips after after-school activities would constitute a third transportation round, which is beyond their responsibility.

This gap between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare leads to inconsistent solutions, with the latter responsible for after-school care but not transportation. Organizations supporting families with special needs children, including "Ilan," "Beit Izzy Shapira," and the Coalition of Parents of Children with Special Needs, have petitioned Israel's Supreme Court demanding a solution. They argue that transportation after after-school programs is not a privilege but a basic necessity, as many children cannot travel independently, and parents face impossible choices between employment and their children's care.

The petition highlights cases like Audrey's and another child, "Sh," whose parents avoid after-school programs due to transportation issues, resulting in additional childcare costs or reduced work hours. Advocates emphasize the economic and emotional toll on families, with one parent forced to reduce work hours and others unable to maintain stable employment.

The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Welfare acknowledge the issue and are engaged in joint inter-ministerial discussions alongside the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General's office to find a resolution. However, due to ongoing legal proceedings, they have not provided further details. The case underscores the broader challenges faced by families of children with intellectual and physical disabilities in Israel regarding access to adequate educational support and transportation.