Special-Needs Briefs — 8/4/08

Autistic boy exits bus at wrong stop, two-hour search ensues
EDMONDS, Wash. — The family of an 8-year-old autistic boy, police officers and Edmonds School District staff engaged in a two-hour search for the boy after he reportedly disembarked his bus at the wrong stop. He was eventually found near his house. To read the full story, click here.

District to implement in-house special-needs transportation to cut costs
FOREST PARK, Ill. — Forest Park School District 91 officials said that the district may save about $30,000 annually by transporting special-needs students without help from an independent contractor. To further reduce transportation costs, district officials also said they will no longer hire bus attendants unless a student’s IEP mandates such assistance. To read the full story, click here.

Special-needs boy left on school bus; mother wants apology
SAN DIEGO — A woman asked for an apology from a local school district after her 4-year-old son, who has special needs, was left on his school bus. The boy reportedly fell asleep on the way to pre-kindergarten classes and went unnoticed by the driver, who returned to the bus yard and locked the bus after dropping off the other children. To read the full story, click here.