CHANDLER, Ariz. — A school bus driver here reported himself to his district for slapping a special-needs student who spit on him, KPHO/KTVK reports.
Video footage from the school bus shows that on Dec. 1, the bus driver and a school aide held down a a 15-year-old special-needs student, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and the driver slapped , the student after he spit on the driver, according to the news source. The student’s father told KPHO/KTVK that his son, who has the cognitive capacity of a 3-year-old, was in a mechanical restraint at the time, and that the bus driver’s slap knocked the back of his son’s head into a bus window.
A school resource officer for Chandler Unified School District is investigating the incident, and the district told the news source that it is fully cooperating with authorities. The bus driver has resigned and no longer works for the district, according to KPHO/KTVK.
To read the full story, go here.
School bus driver admits slapping special-needs student
School bus video footage shows the driver and a school aide holding down a 15-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, who was in a restraint at the time, and the driver slapping him. The driver has resigned.
More Special Needs Transportation
The Lived-Experience Gap in Mobility Tech: An Expert Take on Safe Student Transportation
A product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user drops in to The Route to share practical securement and training insights, plus why she launched the “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →What Transportation Gets Wrong About Wheelchair Securement (And How to Fix It)
Brianna Pauwee, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user shares practical securement and training insights, plus why she launched the “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Keeping Up With Special-Needs Training & Standards: What Districts Need To Know in 2026
As the number of students with disabilities and IEPs rises nationwide, transportation teams face growing pressure to stay compliant, confident, and trained. Explore what’s evolving and how to stay on top of it all.
Read More →
How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
Announcing 2026 Special-Needs Driver of the Year Nominations
Honoring the exemplary accomplishments of school bus drivers transporting students with disabilities, AMF Bruns of America’s ninth annual National Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year Award series is open for nominations!
Read More →
Special-Needs Transportation Shifts in 2026: More Riders, More Tech, New Pressures [Survey Report]
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? Operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and emerging challenges. Details here! Survey sponsor: AMF Bruns of America.
Read More →
New Jersey Legislature Approves Special Education Transportation Task Force
The state moves to review special education transportation policies following safety concerns raised by families and advocates.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
Why Student Privacy Matters in Special-Needs School Transportation
Learn more about what federal law really allows when sharing special-needs information with bus drivers and aides while protecting student privacy.
Read More →
AMF Bruns Celebrates 2025 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year
Julio Ospina, a SPED driver and safety trainer at Wylie ISD in Texas, was named the national winner in AMF's annual driver award series.
Read More →
