THOUGHT LEADER
Recommended Do’s and Don’ts for Meeting the Challenges of Transporting Children with Disabilities Written by Linda F. Bluth, Ed.D.
M
eeting the daily challenges of transport- ing children with disabilities is real and complex. These challenges are not new, but they are increasingly multifaceted. On
top of the challenge list in many school districts is driver shortages, followed by the cost of transportation services. What can be overwhelming is the increase in competing priorities to safely transport children with disabilities. The pressure resulting from how to accomplish safe transportation for these children can result in inade- quate decision-making. Guided by the principles of safety, responsibility and entitlement under federal and state law it is imperative to aspire to respond to challeng- es for safe transportation of children with disabilities by timely addressing the “Do’s and Don’ts” under pressure. I am realizing more and more about the importance of knowing what is and is not required under the Individu- als with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In addition to federal law, it is critical to be well-versed
about state law pertaining to the related service of trans- portation for eligible children under the IDEA. Under the IDEA Part B regulations, transportation is defined as a related service that includes: “(i) Travel to and from school and between schools; (ii) Travel in and around school
buildings; and (iii) Specialized equipment (such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps), if required to provide special transportation for a child with a disability.” (34 CFR §300.34(c)(16)). At first glance, this IDEA definition appears clear. In re-
ality, unique individual child transportation requirements necessitate extensive knowledge about the related service of transportation and its explicit requirements. Understanding the role of the individualized educa-
tion program (IEP) team’s responsibility under the IDEA to develop, approve and implement the related service transportation is essential. Approved transportation ser- vices should always be documented in the IEP to avoid misunderstandings and potential IDEA compliance vio- lations. The IEP team meeting should always include all the qualified personnel necessary to make an informed decision, including the parent. Don’t make unilateral transportation decisions without
the attendance of all stakeholders that are required for implementing an IEP. The following is an example of a costly mistake that happened multiple times during my career. The IEP team, under pressure from a single parent, required that a child be picked up first and dropped off last. This was solely based upon the parent’s work schedule
Do’s & Don’ts for Providing Transportation as a Related Service The following are recommendations on what to do and not to do when it come to meeting the unique challeng- es of transporting children with disabilities. The list is not all-inclusive.
Do’s 1. Be knowledgeable about federal and state laws, and the school district’s written policies and pro- cedures for transporting children with disabilities.
2. Bridge the gap between transportation and special education department communication practices.
3. Provide training for all transportation personnel required to serve children with disabilities. This includes substitute personnel.
4. Use all allowable alternative school transportation options to serve children with disabilities safely, effectively and efficiently.
5. All stakeholders should meet on a regularly sched- uled basis to set priorities for safe transportation.
26 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2024
Don’ts 1. Don’t allow unilateral decision-making at IEP meetings.
2. Don’t be impulsive and yield to pressure to make an IEP decision.
3. Don’t allow individuals unknowledgeable about the impact of disabilities on school transporta- tion to transport children prior to receiving the required in-service training.
4. Don’t avoid addressing high-priority IDEA com- pliance issues.
5. Don’t allow time as an excuse for not responding timely to all safety matters including bullying, sexual assault and unsafe behaviors that occur on a school transportation vehicle.
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