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

News•by Staff•July 6, 2015

School bus drivers throw annual party for special-needs students

Drivers and other transportation employees from an Oregon district raise money through a raffle and solicit donations for the party. A total of 55 special-needs students plus some siblings and parents participated this year.

News•by Staff•July 6, 2015

School bus duo wins state special-needs competition

Lori Partee and Sandy James, both special-needs bus drivers for Henry County (Ga.) Schools, advance to next year’s National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo.

News•by Thomas McMahon•July 2, 2015

Ray Turner shared insights on special-needs bus safety

Turner, whose pupil transportation career spanned more than 40 years, authored training manuals and numerous articles on special-needs transportation.

News•by Staff•June 11, 2015

Bus a/c supplier ACT adds engineering director

Adolfo Salinas has more than 20 years of experience in the engineering design and application of mobile bus air conditioning.

News•by Staff•June 11, 2015

Ron Campbell to lead bus sales in Canada for ASV

The industry veteran is named the new Canadian bus division national sales manager for Collins Bus parent company Allied Specialty Vehicles.

News•by Staff•June 3, 2015

First Priority named Trans Tech dealer for California, Nevada

In those two states, First Priority will offer sales and service for Trans Tech’s Type A school buses, including the all-electric eSeries.

News•by Staff•June 1, 2015

Special-needs bus driver, aide, rescue student’s father suffering stroke

An Alabama bus driver and aide noticed something was wrong when a special-needs student’s father did not show up at her bus stop. They found him in his home suffering a stroke and got him help in time to save his life.

News•by Staff•June 1, 2015

Special-needs student wanders from school bus

In New York, a 6-year old with autism ran from his bus after it stopped at his school. The bus aide tried to catch up with him, and police eventually found him safe more than 30 blocks away.

News•by Staff•May 29, 2015

California special-needs conference rescheduled

The state’s two-day Transporting Passengers with Special Needs conference that was scheduled for Nov. 17 and 18 will now be held Dec. 8 and 9.

News•by Staff•May 29, 2015

Bus driver enlists funds to send special-needs student to prom

The Virginia driver contacted a news station when she learned that the student’s family couldn’t afford to send her to prom. The station paid for the student’s prom outfit, and a local bank donated a $300 gift card to the driver for her good deed.

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