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•August 3, 2009

Detroit Public Schools forgoes plan to cut 159 bus attendants

DETROIT — In new developments announced last week, Detroit Public Schools (DPS) will not follow through with a plan to lay off 159 special-needs bus ...

News•by Staff•August 3, 2009

District to implement new bus pickup policy for special-needs students

EL PASO, Texas — Socorro Independent School District is scheduled to implement a new bus pickup policy today for its special-needs students and child...

News•by Staff•July 6, 2009

Special-needs bus driver honored

MINERAL WELLS, Texas — Special-needs school bus driver Tina Cross was selected by her peers as Mineral Wells Independent School District’s (MWISD) 20...

News•by Staff•July 6, 2009

Feds save Medicaid payments for transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — School districts will continue to be able to receive Medicaid payments for some transportation activities thanks to a move made by...

News•by Staff•July 6, 2009

Special-Needs Briefs — 7/6/09

Drivers for special-needs students protest privatization SALEM, Mass. — Salem Public Schools’ plan to privatize special-needs school tran...

Articles•July 1, 2009

South Carolina District Refines Special-Needs Bus Evacuation

Transportation personnel at Greenville (S.C.) County Schools have developed an innovative special-needs school bus evacuation program that include...

Articles•July 1, 2009

Girardin Celebrates 50-Year Anniversary

Girardin Minibus Inc.’s foray into the school bus industry began in 1958 when the Quebec government centralized the province’s education system, ne...

News•by Staff•June 1, 2009

Special-Needs Briefs — 6/1/09

Special-needs bus flips over during three-car crash STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A Pleasant Valley School District special-needs bus flipped on its...

News•by Staff•June 1, 2009

Q’Straint to host free training seminar

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Q’Straint will hold its sixth annual National Training Seminar at its facilities here in the fall. The school bus semi...

News•by Staff•June 1, 2009

Review: Guidance on special-needs transportation

By Kathy Furneaux Peggy Burns’ new video, The Road to Compliance for Special Needs Drivers, is a refreshing and welcome validatio...

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