By RICHARDSON DHALAI Wednesday, October 31 2012

A CHAGUANAS woman, who is blind and whose son suffers with cerebral palsy is calling on the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) to show compassion when dealing with her son who uses the Corporation’s bus to and from his school.

Speaking at her Boodram Street, Enterprise home yesterday Angela Swamber- Kallicharan, 53, who was born blind told reporters that her son Aaron, 22, who was born with cerebral palsy, is a student at the Immortelle Children Centre in St Ann’s and is only able to go to school using the specially designated and designed PTSC buses for persons with disabilities.

“But they have some new drivers who don’t know where the children living and since some of them can’t speak properly or can’t speak at all, they are reaching home late and that is causing a problem,” she said noting that in her son’s case, he was unable to sit still for an extended period of time.

“Because if they come late, he cannot go to school the next day because he gets some serious back pain and then has to take painkillers,” she said. “I am a blind mother and I need to know who is picking up my son and when he will reach home,” she added.

“But when I call the Corporation to find out how far the bus reach, the operator only tells me not to worry...but I have to worry because not everyone can understand Aaron,” she said, adding her son speaks in grunts and gestures.

“What they need in PTSC is someone who is also disabled to handle the service section because only a disabled person would understand what a disabled mother goes through,” Swamber-Kallicharran said.

She said her son enjoys his time at the school where he is taught to use the computer, spelling, comprehension and other life skills. “He needs professional help but they are trying their best at the school,” she said.

Kallicharan, who five years ago was diagnosed with diabetes, said her husband Bryan Kallicharan, 60, also has diabetes yet works as a watchman at a company in Petit Valley. He normally stays on the job for a few days at a time before returning home because of the cost to go to and from home and work daily.