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School Transportation News Published by STN Media Group
Letter to the Editor Last month’s cover story recapped wheelchair and student
securement training from the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities (TSD) Conference in November with photos of children in wheelchairs taken at the special needs roadeo. Read the article at
stnonline.com/go/jan24.
I read the article on wheelchair securements. Some very good
information; however, one thing troubled me and I’ve noticed it in your magazine several times. The photos that accompany the article show obviously non-disabled children sitting in a wheelchair that is too large for them. I understand deadlines and the realities of shooting for articles. That said, you’re really doing the disabled community and your readers a disservice by not using actual disabled children. If this is truly the community you’re supporting, then they should have a place at the table, not only on shoots but at conferences as well. Interacting with our students with disabilities gives us insight on how to better serve their needs. I would respectfully ask that when there is an article about working with people with disabilities that we also see them represented in said article. Thank you for your time.
Mark Dissette, Trainer at Aurora Public Schools in Colorado Editor’s note—We realize the need to represent students with
disabilities in our articles. Unfortunately, we have been unable to obtain the necessary permission from parents to photograph their children. We encourage readers to work with their districts/customers to identify student photography subjects for demonstrating proper procedures.
The TSD Conference featured dozens of educational sessions,
hands-on training, networking events, and a two-day trade show that focused on how to further safety and efficiency in the transportation of students with special needs. Attendees from across North America shared solutions and learned from industry experts. Read articles and view photo galleries at
stnonline.com/tag/tsd-conference.
I participated in a hands-on training session that focused on school bus evacuations. The class was amazing and informative! I gained an understanding of the best evacuation practices and learned how to efficiently and safely evacuate students of all ages from the bus even before they board it. During the training, we covered various topics such as the importance of knowing students’ information, understanding their individual capabilities, training students and staff, the role of dispatchers, creating seating charts, and developing evacuation plans. I highly recommend attending this conference or taking this class if you haven’t already. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to our operation back in the office. I appreciate the knowledge and insights shared by Aaron Harris, Diandra Neugent, Launi Harden, and Denny Coughlin, our esteemed speakers. Thank you for your expertise, School Transportation News.
LinkedIn/Casiano Perez, Transportation Director, East San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) in California
10 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2024
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stnonline.com
President & Publisher Tony Corpin
Editor Ryan Gray
Senior Editor Taylor Ekbatani
Social Media Coord. Ruth Ashmore
Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski
Editorial Intern Merari Acevedo
Senior Designer Kimber Horne
Graphic Design Maria Molina
Circulation Andrea Dugmore
CONTRIBUTORS: Carol Brzozowski Linda F. Bluth, Ed. D. Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Kari Lydersen
Chairman of the Board Bill Paul
Vice President Colette Paul
Client Services/ Digital Media Coord. Claudia Newton
Event Manager Alice Hung Sabedra
Sr. Event Coordinator Amy Yamakawa
Event Services Coordinator Trynne Lilleskare
Accounting Lisa Douglas
Creative Consultant Vincent Rios Creative, Inc.
Amanda Pampuro Jim Romeo Mark Rowh David Volz Eric Woolson
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Mike Bullman, South Carolina Department of Education Denny Coughlin, Consultant Michael Dorn, Safe Havens International Ned Einstein, Transportation Alternatives Launi Harden, Consultant Pete Meslin, Consultant Alexandra Robinson, Consultant Michael Shields, Consultant
HOW TO CONTACT STN: School Transportation News welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and are subject to editing for grammar, style and space. Submissions must be legible, include a signature, job title/employer name, valid mailing and/or email address, and telephone number. Unsigned letters or letters signed only with a pseudonym or initials will not be used. Email letters to:
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The views and opinions in School Transportation News are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.
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ryan@stnonline.com, or by phone at 310-792-2226 or by fax at 310-792-2231. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Printed in the U.S.A.
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