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•February 1, 2000

The ‘Next Generation’ of Protection for Wheelchair Passengers

With crash-tested securement points, the transport wheelchair will significantly improve passenger safety. Meanwhile, retractable securement systems already are having a positive impact.

Articles•February 1, 2000

Searching for solutions to severe behavior problems

As a new bus driver, I quickly learn that students with behavior problems can be very interesting to work with, indeed. A couple of decades later, I am a supervisor, but still heavily involved in serving students with special needs.

Articles•December 1, 1999

School loading zones should be wheelchair friendly

Extra care needs to be given to school loading-zone safety when buses for children with special-needs are involved, especially when the children are transported in wheelchairs.

Articles•August 1, 1999

A New Role for Transportation in the Reauthorized IDEA

School bus operators need to consider the 'benefits' of transporting children with disabilities.

Articles•June 1, 1999

Creating guidelines requires strong commitment (and coffee)

California officials have often been asked questions regarding school transportation to which there were no concrete answers and no “best practices” manual to which they could refer.

Articles•April 1, 1999

Four days to safer installation of child safety seats in buses

If the school bus is indeed an extension of the classroom, then a change in education is evidenced by the passengers who are being transported today.

Articles•March 1, 1999

The ABCD's of a behavior intervention plan

Behavior problems exhibited by students with disabilities are not uncommon on the school bus.

Articles•March 1, 1999

Opinions Vary on Driver's Role in Medical Emergencies

School districts are often hesitant to expand first aid training because of liability and confidentiality concerns.

Articles•March 1, 1999

5 Easy Pieces to a Better Special-Needs Program

These tips on training, equipment, communication, information and program monitoring can improve the safety and efficiency of your operation.

Articles•by Staff•February 1, 1999

Language should focus on abilities, not disabilities

How we speak to and about the students with disabilities who ride school buses can influence their perception of themselves and others' perceptions of them.

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