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Don't overlook the importance of special needs transportation when managing your school buses. Special needs students and those on IEPs deserve a safe ride just like every other student.
However, providing for their needs can sometimes be tricky. With over 25 years' experience helping school districts manage their routes, BusBoss has practical advice which makes it easier to avoid common problems.
1 - Always train your staff
Far too many issues with special needs transportation stem from the driver or other minders not being properly informed and trained on the needs of your IEP students. Use electronic systems to ensure this info is always available on their working devices, and provide hands-on training for matters such as securing wheelchairs.
Staff should never be working with a special needs student without a full briefing on their needs and appropriate procedures.
2 - Avoid long rides for IEP students
Long bus rides are typically more stressful or tiring for special-needs students than for everyone else. Tell your routing software to prioritize students on IEPs, picking them up late and dropping them off early, to minimize how long they're on the bus.
Or, in some cases, it might make more sense to have a dedicated vehicle like a van specifically for special needs students, to shorten their ride times.
3 - Always consider emergency situations
Do your emergency plans, such as bus evacuations or dangerous weather, take your IEP students into account? A section of your emergency plans should be devoted to handling all known special needs in your district, and how to make sure those specific students are safe. For example, processes for evacuating a wheelchair-bound student if the wheelchair lift is inaccessible, or psychological advice for helping autistic students cope with a chaotic situation.
4 - Avoid 'lost' students with ID tracking
Even if you don't implement full ID tracking for all students, it's a very good idea to electronically track your IEP students whenever they get on and off the bus. Some will be more vulnerable than other students; others may be more prone to getting off at the wrong stop. Tracking will prevent dangerous mistakes, and add an extra layer of security which keeps them safe.
BusBoss wants every passenger on your buses to have a safe and enjoyable ride. If you're struggling to implement special needs transportation measures that are effective and cost-efficient, contact us for further advice or consultation.
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PRESIDENT
Sonia has been involved with BusBoss since the late 1990’s, and has personally overseen many projects for various customers ranging from large urban and suburban districts to smaller rural school districts from all over the country.
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