with disabilities. Te future is so much brighter than the past be- cause of the involvement of interested parties including special educators, transporters, occupational and physical therapists, and psychologists coming together to share best practices. Tis was clearly observed during the recent 15th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) in Warrensburg, Mo., last May. At this meeting, delegates revised the National School Bus Specifica- tions and Procedures document, updating it from the 2005 version. Knowledgeable national experts including special needs trans- portation leaders addressed the provision of transportation for children with disabilities in this document. Looking ahead and thinking what is next to ensure a bright


future for children with disabilities as school bus riders includes all of the following:


1.


Listening to students to learn more about the future of safe ridership;


2. Encouraging parents to take a greater role in making cer- tain that their children follow safe school bus practices;


3. Acknowledging the importance of the role of the bus driver in meeting the demands of the road and the indi- vidual needs of students on their bus;


4. Making informed decisions about the need for a bus monitor to manage special needs and behavior;


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5. Encouraging school personnel, such as building admin- istrators, to ride school buses to learn more about what works and doesn’t work;


6. Support campaigns to extinguish bullying on the school bus and at school bus stops;


7.


Including the school bus as a part of the school day with respect to appropriate behavior expectations;


8. Using time on the school bus to enhance learning by mak- ing computer technology available for learning; and


9. Expanding driver training to include online opportunities that promote knowledge about the impact of disabilities on ridership, including behavior management strategies.


Abraham Lincoln once said: “Te best way to predict your


future is to create it.” Terefore, we must work as a team to con- tinue to create the safest transportation feasible for students with disabilities who are so dependent on our industry’s atten- tion and commitment to access to education for all children. ■


Dr. Linda F. Bluth is president of NAPT and a quality assurance specialist with the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services at the Maryland State Department of Education.


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