restraint systems against parent’s wishes when the safety of an individual child and peers has been an issue. In a number of in- stances school districts have prevailed. But in a notable case, an appellate court in Illinois recently ruled an autistic boy could have his dog in school. Transportation was included as a related service requirement. As a result, I anticipate that the use of ser- vice dogs by children with autism will be a topic that requires additional analysis from the transportation perspective. Te following are recommended strategies to address chal- lenges faced by transporters of young children with autism:
• Transporters should request programs to be informed as soon as possible about individual needs described in IFSPs and/or IEPs. Reduce ride time as much as possible.
• Use a team of early intervention specialists, special ed- ucators and therapists to provide in-service training commensurate with the specialized needs of individual children with unique needs. Both classroom and on the bus training should be provided.
• Include input from parents. When appropriate, allow par- ents to assist with safety vests and bus boarding. Some children reject physical contact. However, transportation personnel are responsible to assure all equipment is utilized
in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Plan for extra bus boarding time, and seating as part of the route schedule. Allow sufficient time for children who are re- sistant to leaving their home.
• Communicate in a soft voice using vocabulary words that are understood.
• A daily routine is required to prevent and minimize adverse behaviors.
• Practice emergency drills as needed to establish safe practices. • Check daily to ensure that all children depart the bus at school and home. There are multiple incidences reported in the media of children with autism being left on the school bus.
In summary, it is essential to understand the complexity in-
volved in providing a safe ride to and from early intervention services serving children with autism. Careful planning, knowl- edge and utilizing a team approach can only accomplish what is needed to serve these children. n
Bluth is the president of the National Association For Pupil Trans- portation and the quality assurance specialist with the Maryland State Department of Education.
transporter.
More than just a
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