ways secured. Te training will also address how to secure extra equipment, such as oxygen tanks, ventilators or pumps. “Sue is a brave woman,” Manary said. “At the end of our training, she asks the audience what their most difficult or craziest problems are, and we try to give some suggestions.” Manary also stressed the need for
improved communication. “Te main idea that we try to convey is that the whole team needs to address the needs of these kids. Tey may have emotional or physical needs, or they may need special treatment or interventions during the bus ride. Without good communication, a lot of times the driver feels like they are left holding the bag.
Tey’re supposed to stop driving the route and give medical treatment or an inter- vention, and it’s a lot of responsibility.” Barry Brooks echoed this sentiment.
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“At times, we don’t know the medical conditions until after the fact,” said the director of transportation for Minot Pub- lic Schools in North Dakota. “Sometimes, special education doesn’t know, either.” Most of the time, special educators simply don’t notify transportation, he added, such as an instance when a student required suppository medication for a seizure on route. “Te school knew, but never told us,” he explained. “We also had a case where an IEP stated that the student needed air conditioning, but no one bothered to check with trans- portation to see if we even had a vehicle with that. Which we didn’t.” Too often special education doesn’t want transportation involved in IEP meetings, or doesn’t know when staff should be invited. “I don’t need to be at every one, but one of these days, something is going to happen, and it’s going to cost the district a lot of money,” he added. “We have all these computers and phones, but we still aren’t communicating. Te mentality needs to change. Schools need to view the transportation department as the professionals that we are.” Another transportation director who wished to remain anonymous said trans- portation is welcome at IEP meetings. Te biggest issue there when transport- ing special needs students is finding harnesses that properly fit students of various heights. “Especially with built in seats, the straps bear down too hard on their shoulders. We can take a BESI or an E-Z-On and adjust them well, until we get a very tiny student that is an escape artist,” the director said. “My role in helping my drivers is to make sure that the driver or aide is putting the harness on correctly.” To that end, district staff are attending a securement class with the local NHTSA trainer. “I want everyone trained in fitting these harnesses precisely and correctly so that the child is safe and comfortable, and I want those certifications in the files,” the director said.
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