Special Needs Transportation

Explore best practices for safely and effectively transporting students with disabilities and special transportation needs. We cover accessibility, wheelchair securement, equipment, training, student behavior, regulations, and specialized transportation services.

Kelli Goterba, the 2026 Special-Needs Driver of the Year, stands with her arms crossed in front of a Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities school bus.

News

Kelli Goterba Named 2026 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year

Through building trust with students and strengthening her transportation team, Goterba exemplifies the impact special-needs drivers can make.

Digital Cover Features

The Most Common Wheelchair Securement Mistakes on School Buses (and How to Fix Them)

A wheelchair user operates a school bus wheelchair lift equipped with BraunAbility’s LiftSentinel barrier system as another person stands nearby with a handheld control.

News

BraunAbility Introduces New Safety Barrier for Wheelchair Lifts

A close up image of a hand holding a phone with HopSkipDrive's platform and CareDriver information on the screen.

News

HopSkipDrive Launches New Safety, Driver Consistency Features for 2026-27 School Year

Articles•by Staff•April 1, 2005

Florida team wins special-needs roadeo

PHOENIX — A veteran pair of pupil transportation professionals placed first in the Eighth Annual National Special Needs Team Roadeo. Drive...

Articles•April 1, 2005

Sustaining a vital link between school and home

When it came time for the wheels on the bus to go ‘round and ‘round to take my 3-year-old son to developmental preschool, this nervous mother was abou...

Articles•by Staff•March 1, 2005

BUS BRIEFS

Legislators look at limiting school bus emissions DES MOINES, Iowa — Several state lawmakers have proposed setting limits on school bus em...

Articles•by Staff•March 1, 2005

5 ways to make your bus fun for autistic kids

My 8-year-old autistic son stands at our living room window watching for his shiny yellow school bus to come up our driveway at 7:30 each weekday morn...

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 2005

Edupro, NAPT partner for special-needs roadeo

CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Chandler Unified School District’s transportation center will host the 8th National Special-Needs Team Safety Roadeo, scheduled ...

Articles•by Thomas McMahon•February 1, 2005

Special needs calls for special training

You hold in your hands the latest and greatest edition of SBF February, also known as the Special-Needs Issue. As you’ll see, we’ve gone to great leng...

Articles•February 1, 2005

Keys to safely transporting students with tracheostomies

Thoughtful planning is required to safely and smoothly integrate a student with a tracheostomy into school activities. Transporting the child with a t...

Articles•December 1, 2004

10 common mistakes with child safety seats

When installing a child safety seat, considerations such as the weight of the child and which direction he or she should face are critical. Avoid the ...

Articles•by Staff•November 1, 2004

SBIC pulls more than its weight

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the pupil transportation industry pulled together, literally, to help raise money for the Special Olympics of Virginia a...

Articles•by Staff•November 1, 2004

Retractor safety bulletin issued

BRANCHBURG, N.J. — Sure-Lok has issued a safety bulletin on its retractable wheelchair tiedown assemblies. According to the bulletin, a component-...

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