the age of the child, the impact of a child’s disability on providing safe transportation services in the selected alternative transportation vehicle, the necessity for a reduction of length of ride time, and the ability to provide safe access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) within and outside of the school district. It is essential to consider what alternative transporta-
tion vehicle works best to ensure safe travel, including the need for an attendant on the alternative transportation vehicle. This list is not exhaustive, but other consider- ations include child safety restraint systems, wheelchair transport and appropriate behavioral interventions. From my perspective as an expert witness, including on
alternative transportation cases involving children with disabilities, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of driver training and using substitute drivers that have the knowledge required to provide a safe ride under all circumstances. This applies to all transportation person- nel as well. It is crucial to invite alternative transportation providers to the IEP meeting to ensure the opportunity to share vital child specific information, as permissible under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. As the framework for alternative student transportation continues to evolve, it is important to follow the newly
formed Alternative Student Transportation Associations (ASTA) actions. On its website, ASTA states: “We are work- ing to advance regulations that put student safety and access to transportation first. By collaborating with policy- makers, school districts and industry leaders, we hope to help educate policies that will enhance safety, accessibility and operational efficiency while putting students first.” The uniformity of providing safe student transpor-
tation in alternative transportation vehicles requires ongoing commitment to monitoring this emerging trend. Transparency and trust are crucial as the con- tinuum of school transportation services for specific populations of students, requiring this option increases. Safety and compliance with federal and state regulations should always remain a priority during the IEP deci- sion-making process for each individual child assigned to ride alternative transportation. ●
Linda Bluth is a national compliance and regulatory expert on IDEA transportation law and provisions. She is a tenured faculty member for TSD Conference, a regular contributor to School Transportation News, and an NAPT Hall of Fame member.
www.stnonline.com 57
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
