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PRE-SPRING CONFERENCE

BY DON HARRIS
School Bus Drivers Need to Know About

Students’ Physical, Emotional Problems

Virginia Fish

Students with emotional and physical needs require special
attention and school bus drivers need to know what those ailments “The IDEA process is more involved than that of
are and how to keep children safe.
In a pre-conference session on transportation prior to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and requires
AASBO’s Spring Conference, Virginia “Ginny” Fish, Special documentation of measurable growth. The goal is
Needs Supervisor for Washington Elementary School District’s
Transportation Fleet Services, said she understands what teachers to make them as much of a generalized student
and other school employees are going through in providing as possible. Just because of a medical or birth
services for special needs children – speci cally the requirements
and restrictions. issue doesn’t mean they will require special
Fish, whose career in education began as a classroom assistant, transportation for the rest of their life.”
has 21 years of experience in transportation and special needs. Her
advice to AASBO members, regardless of their profession, was – — Virginia “Ginny” Fish, Special Needs Supervisor for Washington
the key success in school business is to all work together with other Elementary School District’s Transportation Fleet Services
campuses and departments and to communicate.
“ e Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program temporary transportation might continue unnoticed for several
developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identi ed years, she said.
under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary “They have to continue to provide documentation to
educational institution receives specialized instruction and related continue transportation,” Fish said. “If the school is not making
services,” Fish said. accommodation on campus for that student, we don’t necessarily
But she cautioned, “Just because a child attended pre-school need to transport them. Be diligent with questions.”
doesn’t mean they automatically need to get transportation to Fish described some subtle but important di erences in
kindergarten.” special needs. For example, a student may need assistance to
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act access education but is not necessarily a candidate for special
(IDEA), she identi ed disability categories as autism, emotional education.
disturbance, hearing impairment, deafness, mental retardation, “Not all students who have disabilities require specialized
multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, speech or language transportation,” Fish said. “For students with disabilities who do
impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment (including require specialized transportation, the Individuals with Disabilities
blindness), and developmental delay. Education Act controls the procedural requirements, and an IEP
In addition, the 504 Plan of the federal Rehabilitation Act is is developed. e IDEA process is more involved than that of
intended to ensure that a child who has a disability identi ed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and requires documentation
the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational of measurable growth. e goal is to make them as much of a
institution receives accommodations that will ensure their generalized student as possible. Just because of a medical or birth
academic success and access to the learning environment, Fish said, issue doesn’t mean they will require special transportation for the
emphasizing access. rest of their life.”
If a student shows up in a wheel chair with a broken leg, that School bus drivers need to know about a student’s conditions so
student needs a 504 Plan because the child won’t need to continue they know how to handle certain situations, like if a student has a
with Individualized Educational Plan schooling, Fish said. “ ey behavioral problem.
just need it so they can get help from time to time,” she said. “It’s For students with disabilities who do not require specialized
very important to give them the services they need, but not more instruction but need the assurance that they will receive equal
than they need.” access to public education and services, a document is created to
Fish also recommended that when temporary transportation is outline their speci c accessibility requirements. Students with 504
provided for a student who has had surgery, always get an end date, Plans do not require specialized instruction, but, like the IEP, a
which could be a week, a month or even three months. e end
date can be changed, but if no one is keeping track of the situation, CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

30 THE EDGE SUMMER 2018

THE EDGE |