Kate Hall asked the regional council if it would waive fares for a support person who would teach her 21-year-old son Lucas how to use the bus but was turned down.
Her son was a quick learner and his mother hoped that with a short period of assistance he would pick up the skills to use the bus service independently, such as paying and where to get on and off.
He was in his last year at Kaikorai Valley College and hoped to take part in day programmes, work experience and recreational activities when he finished school.
She expected to pay her son's fare but thought it was not unreasonable for the council to support him learning to use the system independently, especially as it wanted to increase bus patronage.
"My son will never drive a car and buses will be his form of transport for life," she said.
There was no other form of financial support available for this that she was aware of and she was interested in hearing from any other parents facing similar struggles.
"They said they didn't want to set a precedent but I believe it's about time a precedent is set, as other people with disabilities might also be able to use buses if this was available."
CCS regional manager Joy Gunn said she was aware other countries offered support for people to travel free on public transport but was not aware of it being standard practice in New Zealand.
The organisation was talking to the regional council about making public transport more accessible to people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
"We're hoping to keep discussing how they can be improved."
Otago Regional Council corporate services director Wayne Scott said while he was not aware of the council's response, he understood it, as the council did not have a policy making such a provision.
The council would normally rely on the appropriate service to take care of the man's support.
Any free fares given came directly out of the pocket of the bus companies, due to the nature of council's contracts with them.
The council had invested a lot in making the bus service wheelchair accessible as well as introducing "kneeling" buses, he said.
