A DISABLED Dunfermline schoolgirl has been left “terrified” to go on the schoolbus after witnessing a driver shouting at another autistic child.

Kenny and Yvonne Greig, of Tirran Drive, say their eight-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, was “distressed and crying” after the incident at 8.35am on 22nd August and suffered a “complete meltdown” when she came home.

Kaitlyn has unbalanced chromosomal translocation, a rare genetic disorder that causes a range of disabilities including learning difficulties, mobility, speech, language and hearing problems, and autism, and has taken the additional support needs bus to Pitreavie Primary for the last three years without any problems.

But her parents have now taken her off the bus and hit out at Fife Council for hiring people “with absolutely no idea how to deal with children with additional needs”.

Yvonne recalled, “There were another seven children on the bus who appeared not to be supervised at all as the escort was unable to cope with this one child alone.

“Kaitlyn was placed on the bus and the driver stated to the young boy, who is severely autistic, and shouted whilst pointing his finger, ‘If you dinnae stop this now, I’ll chuck you off the bus and this is your last warning, right!’ “The escort then stated, ‘He’s just being a silly naughty boy.’ The bus driver then closed the door and further stated, ‘Aye, ye ken sometimes when you shout at them it works.’ “I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ I was shocked and angry. Kaitlyn was really upset and crying.” Yvonne called transportation services immediately and the school to make sure Kaitlyn was alright.

But when Kaitlyn came home, “She was shouting, screaming about the bus, the bus driver – she said, ‘Don’t want go on bus’ the whole weekend, and was in tears on Monday again.” They are now taking Kaitlyn to school themselves – but are concerned how other disabled children might be affected.

Yvonne said, “There are other buses going to Pitreavie and we asked if we could go on another one but Fife Council said no way.

“It appears Fife Council are happy for a bus of nine extremely vulnerable children to be supervised by people who have absolutely no idea how to deal with children with additional needs.

“We are fortunate that we have transport, however, many do not so is it a case that others have no choice and are having to put up with this type of service due to their social status or vulnerability?” Louise Playford, school estate service manager, said, “We’re deeply sorry that the family are upset and will be working with them to sort this out.

“We’ve received an official complaint and are currently dealing with it.

“We’ve taken their complaint very seriously, investigated it and will be responding directly to the family.

“Given the sensitive nature of the complaint, it wouldn’t be appropriate to share details publicly, particularly before we’ve responded to Mr and Mrs Greig.”