Page 42 - AASBO EDGE Summer 2023 WEB

It Takes a Special Team to Transport Special Needs Kids
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“All of the information needs to be complete,” drivers safer. Let kids get on and off the bus. Make
Brown said. “This is the form the teams on the them comfortable – a lot of kids are afraid of buses.
bus use to safely and successfully get your special Younger kids are not used to being away from their
needs students to and from home and school. It parents. Have parents there until kids are comfortable
should include names and phone numbers of two getting on a bus. A lot of special needs kids don’t
or three emergency contacts, medical conditions transition well.”
such as diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems, autism
and seizures, and any other health impairments If a teacher wants to ride the bus, drivers shouldn’t
including cognitive, hearing, vision and speech. All be concerned. “They’re not there to discipline –
allergies need to be listed. If a student has toileting they want to see what’s going on,” Brown said. “It
needs or needs a feeding tube, all of this information encourages teamwork.”
is needed to provide proper care for students.
Behaviors such as verbal or physical aggression, She continued: “Over the years, I have talked with
hitting, biting, spitting, touching or running away principals and special needs directors about discipline
need to be listed on the form. Our teams need to on the bus. One of the hardest times for the students
protect the students from harming themselves and is during transitions from home to school or school to
others. They also need this information to protect bus. The bus is taking some students away from their
themselves.” comfort zone. It gave me an idea – why not help the
student to understand that everyone cares about them
Furthermore, all medications should be listed, and it is safe to ride the bus? The bus staff and the
and if necessary the list will need to be shared school staff work together.”
with emergency response personnel, Brown said.
“Consider having a daily check off sheet with the For example, when the bus team goes to the school
parent or guardian signature to verify they packed during a transition time, like lunch or recess, the bus
the medication in the specified place for the student,” team sees how the teachers handle the transition.
she said.
“They learn the terms the teachers use with the
Brown recommended having a seating chart so students,” Brown said. “This makes an easier
students always sit in the same seat so they can be transition when everyone works together. The student
identified by where they sit. Special needs buses benefits from the teachers and the bus team working
are equipped with seatbelts, integrated car seats together.”
and safety vests. She also recommended having an
evacuation plan, and if possible have teachers assist Brown told AASBO members to do what works best
with an evacuation. for your district. “Think outside the bus,” she said.

“Some kids want to sit by themselves, some don’t
like lights, some don’t like the A/C blowing on Sandy Brown can be reached at: (520) 424-0237 or
them,” Brown cautioned.”Introduce yourself to sbrown@roadrunners24.net
the parents. Gather information to keep kids and

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42 THE EDGE SUMMER 2023