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•March 1, 2002

Dealing With the Parental Grief Cycle

Drivers of special-need students are often taken on an emotional roller coaster with the parents of the students they transport. “There were days when...

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 2002

Transporting the Visually Impaired

When greeting a person with a severe loss of vision, always identify yourself and others who may be with you. For example: “On my right is the bus ass...

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 2002

Transporting All Students Equally

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) plans to integrate approximately 35,000 disabled students into regular classes and bus routes by 2006 ...

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 2002

L.A. Unified to Mainstream Special-Needs

In an overhaul slated to take until 2006, the Los Angeles Unified School District will begin integrating its 35,000 special-needs students into regula...

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 2002

Loading Kids Who Use Walkers/Crutches

Loading procedure: 1. Student walks to base of bus steps. 2. Adult stands behind student and helps him or her maintain balance while ascending steps...

Articles•by Staff•January 1, 2002

Send Drivers Into the Classroom

How can we better educate our staff in charge of transporting students with special needs? Most districts offer in-service training on characteristics...

Articles•by Staff•January 1, 2002

Paying Parents for Transportation

When transportation is provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it must be provided at no cost to a parent. Transportati...

Articles•by Staff•December 1, 2001

Dealing with Hearing-Impaired Riders

Because ability levels range widely among students with hearing impairments, it is vital that drivers and assistants work with students and their teac...

Articles•November 1, 2001

Boston Public Tackles Small Bus Conversion

After handing down the decision to replace their 7-D vans with Type A school buses, officials at Boston Public Schools and Laidlaw Education Services ...

Articles•November 1, 2001

Securing Special-Needs Equipment on the Bus

With the bulk of medical and therapeutic equipment student transporters are required to haul these days, it’s easy to feel like you are driving ...

Prev Next