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•March 2, 2009

Roadeo draws special-needs transportation talent

INDIANAPOLIS — Top pupil transporters converged here over the weekend to test their skills in the 12th National Special-Needs Team Safety Roadeo.

News•by Staff•February 17, 2009

New training video targets special-needs transportation

Education Compliance Group Inc. has released a new driver training video, The Road to Compliance for Special Needs Drivers, by attorney and consultant Peggy Burns.

News•by Staff•February 12, 2009

California Dept. of Education cancels transportation conferences

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As a result of the current fiscal emergency in the state of California, all travel under any circumstances for the Californ...

Products•February 6, 2009

Vista-2 Series

The Vista-2 Series is one of three wheelchair lifts manufactured by The Braun Corp. that can be installed in special-needs buses.

Products•February 6, 2009

WL7 Smart Lift

Maxon Mobility’s WL7 Smart Lift has an efficient, computer-generated geometrical design to provide more cycles with less power.

Products•February 6, 2009

K-Series KlearVue wheelchair lift

The K-Series KlearVue wheelchair lift is equipped with a platform that automatically folds in half.

News•by Staff•February 2, 2009

Special-Needs Briefs — 2/2/09

Special-needs student assaults school bus aide GROVETOWN, Ga. — A school bus aide will not press charges against a 10-year-old special-ne...

News•by Staff•February 2, 2009

Children’s health expert to address Transporting Students With Disabilities

INDIANAPOLIS — Dr. Marilyn J. Bull will deliver the keynote luncheon address during the 18th National Conference and Exhibition on Transporting Stude...

Articles•by Thomas McMahon•February 1, 2009

An unforgettable night

Throughout my time covering the bus industry, this may be the most troubling thing I’ve come across: “[The bus matron] told police she knew Ri...

Articles•by Thomas McMahon•February 1, 2009

Small Buses Take On Tough Terrain

With about 1,500 square miles of mostly rural area to cover, West County Transportation Agency (WCTA) school buses regularly venture off paved stre...

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