School bus wheelchair lift wasn't working; a student, 10, found a fix

Cole Davis is a friend indeed.

Just ask his buddy and fellow East Marion Elementary School student Isaiah, a first grader who uses a wheelchair due to difficulty walking caused by the effects of a rare form of muscular dystrophy.

Cole, 10, a fourth grader, and Isaiah, 7, take the same 54-passenger school bus, which makes stops in areas including Scrambletown and Ocklawaha.

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When the bus stopped at Isaiah's home on May 11 to pick him up, the driver went to the side rear of the bus and used the regular control switch and the bus attendant prepared to assist from inside.

But the mechanized lift would not function properly in regular operation. The driver and bus attendant then went to a backup system built into the lift.

According to online specifications posted by the manufacturer, a similar commercial wheelchair lift has a 12 volt "electro-hydraulic" 800 pound lift system and an integrated manual backup system to operate the hydraulics.

But they had trouble. And according to East Marion Principal Sarah Dobbs, Cole "stepped forward" and helped successfully get his friend aboard the bus.

What did Cole do? He looked down and saw the manual control knob.

The bus driver said Cole examined the lower part of the lift control box inside the bus and noticed a knob near the bottom.

The knob was turned, the manual pump backup system worked properly, and the driver and bus attendant were able to get Isaiah safely boarded.

"Cole's help made it possible for us to finish operating the lift," the driver said.

Kevin Christian, director of public relations for Marion County Pubic Schools, stated in an email that drivers receive training on bus equipment but he understood Cole "discovered a backup to the backup, and that's how the situation moved forward."

An MCPS official said if the wheelchair lift could not have been operated, another bus would’ve been dispatch to Isaiah's home.

Isaiah's parents, Timmy and Nicole Martin, and Cole's mother, Kimberli Dotts, met recently at the elementary school to talk about the incident and praise Cole's quick thinking and concern for his friend.

"Cole always helps out," Nicole Martin said. She said she passed Isaiah's needs for the day inside the bus to Cole, who facilitates getting them onto the bus.

Dotts described Cole as an active boy who is taught there is "always a way out" and he should "always help out," as he does.

Cole's sister Javi Davis sent a message about her brother. Javi flashed a big smile and a thumbs up sign.

Meanwhile, Nicole Martin said Isaiah is a top student and receives support from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and treatments at University of Florida Health Shands Hospital.

Nicole Martin praised school officers and East Marion Elementary staff for making some arrangements like a ramp and adaptive swing set at the school.