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sk anyone charged with the transportation of children to describe their services for wheel- chair-bound students, and the term “piece of cake” is likely the last response heard. After
all, the responsibilities of loading, securing and safely transporting these riders can be imposing, requiring consistent practice informed by targeted training. It’s no secret that serving students with wheelchairs brings unique challenges, said Debi Kinemond, assistant director of transportation at Cherry Creek Public Schools in Arapahoe County, Colorado. First of all, equipment must be current with required maintenance to ensure working parts meet safety requirements. Staff need suf- ficient dexterity and flexibility to operate in tight places when installing tie-downs into the floor and to the wheelchairs, given that spaces for chairs can be tight de- pending on the bus style and the number of wheelchairs being transported. In addition, today’s electric wheel- chairs are heavy, so staff sometimes struggle getting the wheelchair lined up and into its designated space. And potential evacuation poses other stress points, she added. While the range of wheelchairs now on the market
may offer families more buying options, that variety poses another set of challenges to transportation staff. “There is not one magic class that can show every single type of wheelchair and how to hook it up,” said Megan Elsberry, special needs route manager for Cleveland ISD in Texas. “It takes time and knowledge to support the driver and monitor teams by training them so they reach the highest level of safety for students with orthopedic impairments.” At the same time, not all the problems are technical in
nature. Kimberly DeHaven, supervisor of transportation at Englewood Schools near Denver, noted that dealing with parents offers its own set of challenges. A common situation is having to inform parents that it’s not possible to transport their child safely because the wheelchair brakes aren’t functioning properly. “Luckily we have a really good working relationship with our teachers that have access to certified and trained wheelchair repair services, so we can get the student back onto the bus within one to two days,” she said. Kinemond pointed out that advance planning can help head off some problems. “Often students and their wheelchairs are brought to the bus for boarding and the wheelchair is not transportable,” she said. “Sometimes we’re able to find a solution within minutes, and other times the solution will take time.” As a preventive strategy, her department offers in-
home wheelchair inspections prior to transporting students and their wheelchair on the bus. The service
54 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2022
reduces the likelihood of delays due to last-minute equipment problems.
Training and More Training In maintaining readiness to deal with the various chal- lenges, a strong commitment to regular training is a must. “Wheelchair training is paramount to any transporta-
tion department across the country,” Elsberry said. “This is a life-or-death situation, and it’s important that all training staff know that before stepping in and training others. The students we transport in wheelchairs are the most fragile, and we are placing them in a moving vehicle.” As districts deal with this realty, training offered by
companies with the right expertise can be invaluable. They include lift manufacturers Wabtec, which offers video training on its website, while BraunAbility posts tips on lift safety, loading and securing students, and links to articles and white papers. Taking a comprehensive approach, Q’Straint not only
offers products such as floor anchorages, wheelchair sta- tions and securement systems but also a robust selection of online training courses, webinars and other training options. Darren Reaume, the company’s national train- ing manager, noted that it’s not always evident just how complex transporting students with disabilities can be as well as how much training is necessary and the degree of liability involved. A major consideration is that many of the mobility de-
vices on the market are not designed for a child or other passenger to ride in while being transported, meaning they must be transferred to another seat. “That’s not always possible in school transportation,” he said. “So, transportation providers are forced to try and secure mobility devices that are not designed to be secured to begin with.” Similarly, proper implementation and proactive train-
ing are a focus at AMF-Bruns, noted Maritza Valentin, contract/national account manager. “Trained personnel are keys to safely transporting wheelchair and occupant passengers with special needs,” she said. To that end, her company promotes a safety culture for
securement of wheelchair passengers. Going beyond the details provided in user manuals, AMF-Bruns provides training options that include training videos accessible on YouTube. Among the tips offered are a preventative maintenance checklist, advice on cleaning techniques and a focus on cross training so that all concerned are up to speed on wheelchair securements. “With the added impact of the pandemic, retirements and the overall shortage of drivers, training is more important than ever,” Valentin said. “Everyone needs a
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