SPECIAL NEEDS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES JULY, 2009 CASE CONFERENCE

1. SPECIAL NEEDS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES JULY, 2009CASE CONFERENCE Cathy Staggs State Department of Education Pupil Transportation ctstaggs@bellsouth.net

2. CURRENT ISSUES

3. TIME ON THE BUS • Special needs routes must be in “balance” with regular bus routes • Long rides can be seen as “punishment” for special needs students • Must keep up with how long it takes to get each student to/from school • May require changing sites for low-incidence populations to more central locations • May require adding bus routes (vehicle, personnel, fuel, etc.)

4. LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY • FAPE issue • Must meet requirements for full school day, as with regular ed. students, unless otherwise stated on the IEP • IEP must designate what is best for the child, not what is best for transportation

5. TRAINING OF PERSONNEL • Drivers/attendants of students with special needs must be trained on more than just the mechanical aspects of their role • Using their “best judgment” is not enough • Needs indicated on the IEP must be shared and explained, with appropriate training • Must understand roles and responsibilities, as well as Board policies and procedures (i.e., pick-up points, following behavior management plans, reporting safety issues)

6. IEP - Transportation as a Related Service • Does the student require transportation as a related service? (YES or NO) • Does the student need accommodations or modifications for transportation? (YES or NO) • If yes, check any transportation accommodations/modifications that are needed. • Bus driver is aware of student’s behavioral and/or medical concerns • Wheelchair lift • Restraint system • Specify (car seat, seatbelt, safety vest/harness, etc.) • Other • Specify (bus attendant, nurse, oxygen tank, service animal, etc.)

7. IEP – Nonacademic and Extracurricular Activities • Will the student have the opportunity to participate in nonacademic/extracurricular activities with his/her nondisabled peers? • Yes. • Yes, with supports. Describe:______________________________ • No. Explanation must be provided:______________________________

8. SEXUAL HARASSMENT/BULLYING • Special needs students often victims • Bus personnel need training on observing, recognizing, preventing, managing and reporting sexual harassment and abuse • Video cameras are good aide in analyzing behavior incidents • Examples

9. EXTENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT DUTY • Not required to prevent all harm to students on school buses, BUT • Must prevent foreseeable harm “When a district or bus company has reason to predict harm which it has a good chance of minimizing with the use of reasonable methods, the law requires the district or company to take the necessary action.” (Peggy Burns, Education Compliance Group)

10. GETTING INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE • Foreseeable ---- Communication • FERPA allows for such communication “When school district personnel have information that would put them on notice of the potential for harm in the absence of action, they need to be sure they communicate that information to the very people most likely to be able to act to prevent or stop the harm.” (P.B.)

11. USING CSRS’s PRIOR TO USE: • Should be discussed in IEP meeting • Based on individual child’s needs • Explore alternatives • Documentation of attempts to use other methods to manage situation • Documentation of imminent danger without restraint • Careful consideration of type of restraint • Inclusion of appropriate staff in decision-making (i.e., Transportation staff, PT’s, OT’s, other specialists) • Training of those responsible for installation, securement, inspection, etc. • Plan for evaluating success/safety concerns

12. TIMING • Implementation of process takes TIME • Law allows for “reasonable” time to begin service • Keep the “horse before the cart”

13. 2009 CLASSES • Review • Special Ed. law • IEP process • Best practices (loading/unloading, transporting preschoolers, length of ride/length of school day, etc.) • Evacuating the special needs bus

14. 2009 CLASSES (cont.) • Standard precautions • Student behavior management • FERPA/Confidentiality • Areas of Disability • Wheelchair securement

15. 2009 CLASSES (cont.) • Evacuating the special needs bus • Evacuation drills required 2x’s/year (once each semester) • Planning required for safely evacuating each student in 2 minutes or less • May need help from other IEP team members to be successful • Driver and aide work together to develop written plans • Properly securing a wheelchair • All w/c’s facing forward • 4 tie-downs, lap and shoulder belt system required

16. THANKS! ctstaggs@bellsouth.net