disabilities. Be sure to consult collective bargaining agreements and insurance contracts for the feasibility of “contract- ing out” attendant positions in the ways OSERS suggests. And, training of these aides is essential. • Bus stop monitors. OSERS notes
that “bus stop monitors will facilitate safe travel for all students,” and adds that these positions may be filled by parents or community volunteers based on state or local policy. The Office con- templates that these monitors can sup- port students who need help “going” to the bus stop or “waiting at the bus stop independently.” MY COMMENTS: At nearly every con-
ference or in-service at which I present, a transportation director asks about the responsibilities of the school district and the parent for getting a child with a dis- ability safely from home to bus. Te OS- ERS comment reflects what is true and not new: When a child with a disability
❝
At nearly every conference or in-service at
which I present, a transportation director asks about the responsibilities of the school district and the parent for getting a child with a dis- ability safely from home to bus. ❞
requires home to bus support, providing that support is part of FAPE. You’re important! I’ll close this Part I of
my report on the OSERS Q&A with one of the most important statements the Office makes: “Transportation providers play an integral role in the school lives of many children, including children with disabilities.” Part II will discuss the Office’s recognition of the importance of school- transportation communication, as well as the relationship of transportation to the length of the school day, bus discipline, and other important issues. n
Peggy Burns is an attorney and consul- tant, and owner of Education Compliance Group, Inc. (
www.educationcompliance-
group.com.) She is the editor of Legal Routes, and developer of four video train- ing programs for school bus drivers, “Te Road to Compliance for Special Needs Drivers,” “Putting the Brakes on Harass- ment,” “Steering Clear of Liability,” and “Confidential Records” and co-author of School Bus Stops: A Safety Guide for Transporters. Peggy can be reached at (888) 604-6141, and by e-mail to ecginc@
qwestoffice.net.
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