School Bus Fleet, February 2021

20 SCHOOL BUS FLEET FEBRUARY 2021 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COM SPECIAL NEEDS TRANSPORTATION DURING COVID Among the many challenges COVID 19 has brought to schools one is transporting special needs students This is especially true for those who have cognitive or behavior disorders physical disabilities or medical conditions that make it difficult for them to comply with pandemic related safety guidelines However the following steps can help keep everyone students bus drivers and attendants safe COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES 1 Partner with special ed staff To help these students transportation and special education departments need to work more closely than ever says Teena Mitchell the special needs transportation coordinator for Greenville S C County Schools Her districts transportation staff members consult with special educators and therapists to learn ways to support students who are having problems and the therapists may ride the buses with these students to find better ways to help them Mitchell even has special needs students ride the bus around the parking lot mid day so they can get comfortable donning and wearing a mask on the bus She also has found that transportation staff members now need to initiate more Individualized Education Program IEP meetings while Susan Shutrump occupational therapist physical therapist supervisor for Trumbull County Educational Service Center in Warren Ohio says a transportation component has been added to several of her districts special needs students IEPs It is important for transportation staff to attend these IEP meetings Mitchell says because they learn about a students sensitivities and other factors they need to consider Then the entire 7 Strategies for Helping Special Needs Students Adjust to COVID Safety Measures Communication best practices include partnering with special education department staff to develop plans based on Individualized Education Programs Story boards and reward systems for mask wearing and social distancing are some recommended steps for reinforcement By Lynda Van Kuren Photo courtesy Hispanolistic via iStock Getty Images