WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) and the Autism Society announced a partnership that will give contracted school bus staff a toolkit with information on autism spectrum disorder, signs for early detection and ways to communicate this information to caregivers and parents for effective intervention.

The partnership will equip school bus drivers and aides, who are often the most consistent and least demanding adult figures in a student's day, with the additional safety information they need, according to NSTA.

The partnership was introduced at NSTA's 2015 Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 20.

In addition to the rollout of the toolkit, the organizations announced they are partnering in the Autism Society's one day awareness and fundraising event. This event, "The Big Give for Autism," aims to raise money for the continuing nationwide programs of the Autism Society and its over 100 affiliates and partnering organizations, while bringing awareness to the fact that autism affects one in 68 people in the U.S.

The Big Give for Autism will take place on Sept. 17 and will use the hashtag #AutismBigGive on all social media platforms. For more information, visit www.AutismBigGive.org.