Transportation

Wed, Dec 21, 2022 1:26PM
12:37
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
transportation, special education, child, iep, student, bus, district, iep team, school, services, learning, equipment, include, special education services, implementing regulations, regular, accommodation, aide, support, least restrictive environment

00:12
school transportation is frequently a source of confusion and even frustration for students withindividualized education programs or plans, otherwise known as IEP s and their families. When does the district have to provide transportation? Who decides how and when transportationoccurs? Is transportation on my child's IEP? How do I know what my rights are for my children'schild's transportation? Can my child have an aide on the bus? These are the few questions thatcome up every year before school starts and for summer services. It is my hope that today we're going to answer some of those questions for you. Hello, a special education strategist. I am your host, Wendy Taylor. I'm a mom of three and have sat on both sides of the IEP table as a parent and a professional. The world of special education can seem overwhelming and evenscary, even for me as a parent and I have extensive special education training. I gotcha. No worries. And my solo episodes of the special education strategist, I am here to break down theIEP process, help reduce the stress and empower you and your child. Through the IEP table I learned to improve outcomes. Be informed, be prepared and become a partner with the IEP team. If you are new to special education feel like your child should be evaluated for specialeducation or just a curious learner. Join me as we dive in and strategize and take your special education worries to wins. Special Education transportation includes the need for differentvehicles or equipment, procedures and staff. The need for special education transportationshould be discussed at the initial IEP meeting at the annual review or when a student's needsrelated to transportation change. Suppose a different mode of transportation other than theregular school bus system is thought to be needed. Situations requiring special education transportation happen often. So there are five situations when Special Education transportationis needed, and therefore they should be listed on the student's IEP. First is accessibility the regular buses not accessible for the child. Second social behavior the students bus conduct the students bus conduct requires a different mode of transportation. This will only be offered afterthe school psychologist and or school behavior social collaborative planner has come up withan implemented let's try that again. Number two school behavior the students bus conduct requires a different mode of transportation. This will only be offered after the schoolpsychologist and or social behavior, collaborative planner, design and implement anddocument interventions for the regular school bus, health or medical condition. A health or medical condition exists which involves the safety of the child or others. Health issues mayinclude seizures, oxygen equipment, fatigue that causes the student to fall asleep on the bus.Assistive devices needed to maintain a sitting position for safety communication issues, whichcould include hard of hearing visually impaired or nonverbal or assistance in walking up anddown the stairs to get on that school bus. Early Childhood Special Education would be number four, the child needs to attend an early childhood program to receive their special educationservices. And there is not a regular bus transporting to that early childhood program. And the fifth one is special placement. The student is attending a special program to receive a specialeducation services service identified in their IEP out of the district or even within the district approved by the unique learners manager or team and there is not a regular bus transportingto the specially designed program. So what is our law say? The ID a and its implementingregulations continue to address the transportation needs of a child with disability.Transportation is considered a related service and under ide a regulations. It can include travel to and from school and between schools travel in and around school buildings and specialistsequipments such as a special or adaptive bus lifts or ramps, a child's IEP team is responsible fordetermining both if transportation is required to assist a child with a disability to benefit fromspecial education and related services, and how the transportation services should beimplemented. The federal law ide a and the implementing regulations also include traveltraining, and the definition of special education. Travel training is instruction that enableschildren with disabilities to develop an awareness of the environment in which they live, and tolearn the skills necessary to move effectively and safely from place to place within thatenvironment. Both transportation and travel training are important services IEP teams couldcontinue to consider when they plan for a child's Post Secondary Transition needs and that'simportant to think about and consider as well as we raise our children to be successful out intothe real world.

06:09
Let's talk about the recent least restrictive environment the concept of Least RestrictiveEnvironment refers to the child's access to the general education curriculum and generaleducation peers least restrictive environment and applies to transportation to so if a child canbe successful on a general education bus, even if needed, supports have to be provided, thenthe child need not ride to and from school on a special education bus. aides and other adults can also be on that bus to help support that child. So aides are often needed to support students during transportation and aid me. An aide may need an aide may need be an aidehelps facilitate communication monitor medical conditions, ensure safety, manage disruptivebehaviors, or help teach or practice a new skill a student is learning related to transportation toand from school. Also, if a child has the support of a nurse while at school, then a nurse is likelyalso needed during that transportation time. These decisions must be made by an IEP team andparents a reminder you are part of that IEP team. If an adult will accompany a student on thebus or other forms of transportation than the additional sport support must be listed specificallyon that child's IEP. When a child needs additional equipment or accommodations fortransportations those items or adjustments may also be provided by the districtaccommodations could include specific temperature requirements, alternative bus routes,equipment like a harness, a lift a seatbelt, a car seat phones, walkie talkies, a ram district mustdistricts must provide whatever is required to safely transport a student to and from school,even if inconvenience or bad expense. Let's talk about extracurricular activities. When a district offers transportation for extracurricular activities for general education students, the districtmust offer transportation to the same activities. For special education students. This is true even if the transportation will require the district to use a special education bus or employanother method of transportation, such as an Uber, they can provide mileage reimbursement toparents in some cases, if the parents choose to drive the child to that activity. Again,transportation must be listed on that child's IEP as an accommodation, then thataccommodation should extend to all school activities requiring transportation. This would include outings like field trips, sports events, outdoor school, work or internship opportunities and community activities or services. Sometimes I even get the question when we're talkingabout transportation if other children can ride the special education bus to so if your child'sriding a special education bus? The answer truly depends on the district. For example, Somedistricts have what they call a HITCHER policy, which allows that sibling to ride to school on thespecial education bus if there is space available. Other districts have a strict policy thatprohibits siblings from riding on that special education bus. This is a matter very specific to the particular district in which you reside. So check with your school district to find out what theirpolicy is and then follow any requests policies. If This is an option that might work well for your family. Frequently special education students are dismissed early from class and that specialeducation bus are seen leaving the school with all the students on board before dismissal Bellever rings. So some say, are we pulling school kids out? Is this legal? It really depends on thestudent and why they're leaving school early. For example, some students need extra time to transition to the bus after school. If a student has anxiety or sensory needs are just the hallwayas too much more transition time is a great accommodation. And this extra time accommodation, again needs to be documented and that child's IEP and implemented justserve the child's needs. So really thinking about that individual child, do they need transferred?Do they need a transition time? What does that look like in terms of getting on the bus safelyafter school and leaving classroom early in order to make that happen safely? So again, whatdoes that individual need of that child? So if your concerns or questions about transportation,discuss them at your child's IEP meeting, check out your school district for their specificregulation. And always refer back to ide a our federal law that helps guide our decisions andguide the support of our children. Again, I'm your host Wendy Taylor. I'm obsessed with helpingfamilies and professionals bridge learning gaps, access special education services, and buildkick butt IEPs. Thank you again for strategizing with us and spending your precious time listening. If you've loved what you've heard, share this episode with a friend give us a like anda follow at learning essentials. Looking for free IEP tips head on over to learning essentials edu.com. You can download free tips to prepare for an IEP meeting plus bonus questions to ask.If you need more special education support visit learning essentials where we provide anindividualized and systematic approach to supporting students with various learning needs anddifferences through academic coaching, educational therapy and brain camp, our executivefunction support model need IP coaching. I've got you covered. Visit learning essentials for additional information