Transportation Management Software, bus scheduling software, school bus scheduling software, school bus management software
Are you giving your special needs transportation policies all the attention they require?
When a student is on an IEP, their special accommodations aren't restricted to the classroom - it extends to their bus ride as well. Schools need to be doing everything possible to ensure every student has a safe, friendly, bus trip.
These are some of the most important considerations.
1 - Know Your Students and Their Needs
The first step is simply ensuring that you're aware of every student with special needs, and have gotten them onto a proper IEP in consultation with their parents and/or doctor. Be aware of the possibility that some kids with disabilities - especially emotional disabilities - may slip through the cracks, and be proactive about getting students the help they need.
2 - Have At Least One Wheelchair-Ready Bus
There's no telling when a student in a wheelchair may arrive at your school - so it's a good idea to have at least one vehicle in your fleet which is equipped for wheelchairs, if needed.
Bus-sharing may be another option here, if there are other districts nearby who already have handicap-accessible buses.
3 - Give Students a Monitor
If you have special-needs students on a bus, it's a very good idea to have a monitor onboard who can focus on assisting them. This takes the burden off of your driver, who may simply not have the time/attention to care for students on IEPs during a drive.
4 - Focus on Trust-Building and Friendly Interactions
Of course, your bus drivers should always be friendly with their riders - but this is especially important for special needs transportation. Students with disabilities should always feel like the bus is a safe place, and that their driver and/or monitor are people they can trust.
5 - Minimize Distance to Bus Stops
When laying out your bus routes, put a high priority on dropping off special needs students as close as possible to their destination. Bus routing software can help you plan routes with these sorts of special exceptions, while still maintaining an overall efficient route.
BusBoss can make it easier for you to manage your special-needs kids in the transportation system. From ensuring all their critical information is available to drivers, to producing highly efficient bus routes prioritizing their safety, we can help you cut costs and keep them safe.
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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. In all cases, her primary goal was to improve their transportation operations by reducing their operating expenses while simultaneously improving student safety and parent satisfaction.
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