In a perfect world, the yellow school bus would be the only way students get to and from school. But the world is not perfect. Other vehicles have long supplemented the role of school buses, and those other modes have only increased as a result of the driver shortage. Transporting students with disabilities can be risky enough in a school bus, but those risks can be amplified in other vehicles. This panel will discuss this changing landscape and what transportation organizations need to do in terms of training and oversight for the safest routes for students, no matter what vehicle they are riding in.

Facilitator: Charlie Hood

Panelists: Jay Thurber, & Caleb Williams

Students with disabilities can’t always advocate for themselves, but they should be taught to do so. At the very least, the system that serves then must provide that option. This session will discuss the many opportunities that exist so parents, passengers and operators can create a program that focuses on the students’ abilities rather than disabilities.

Facilitator: Alexandra Robinson

Panelist: Theresa Anderson, Jerad Castor, & Sharon Shannon

The past few years have desensitized the world. This session is built so attendees become aware of their own goals as well as any blind-spots to others through interaction and hands-on activities. We will focus on making each of us being aware of ourselves and recognize how members of our team may differ in their attitudes and behavior toward others. This includes people who are different in race, color, ethicity, gender, identity, religion, age, ability, and sexual orientation. Take-aways will be a renewed awareness, attitude and behaviors towards others.

Speakers: Theresa Anderson & Josy Campbell

Are you frustrated with the lack of commitment from some IEP team members in relaying important information to contribute to transportation planning? Could it be that they truly don’t know what information you need and it’s relevance to a safe ride? Come to this session, reviewing a new resource to educate and guide multi-disciplinary teams in what information is vital and why.

Presented by Sue Shutrump

Hosted by AMF-Bruns of America

The industry has been asking for back to basics on wheelchair securements. This certification class will cover all those basics and help attendees understand the latest evolving trends on special needs transportation. The class will also cover the WC-18 and WC-19 wheelchair securement standards.

Limited Seating Available l Certification will be provided upon completion of this course.

Facilitated by Maritza Valentin

 Sponsored by 

Where are some places to look for funding? Has your program identified some grant opportunities availalble for transporting students with disabilities, in preschool/Head Start, or who are experiencing homelessness? What happens next? How do you write to maximize your changes of actually receiving funding? This session is for staff who have little to no experience with grants and want to know where to start and what to do after finding a potential source of funding. Jean Paulsel, with her colleague, has had more than $111 million funded for clients. Come learn tips to help make you a successful grant writer.

*Pre–registration & fees required*

Presented by Jean Paulsel, Ph.D., CFLE

A host of technology solutions exist today with the promise of making student rides safer and more efficient. But all the GPS, student tracking and parent apps in the word are only as good as how they are used and the documentation of the student riders and their needs. Communication remains the most important tool that when used utilized alongside technology can move the needle from just getting by to proactive decision-making for the best, appropriate service for students and their families as well as clearly defined roles and responsibilities of transportation staff. Accomplishing this requires an inclusive team approach. This session will provide common scenarios experienced by student transporters and lessons learned from an alternative transportation provider that when viewed through a different lens can forge a seamless relationship between the role of technology and the supporting team to meet the needs of your most vulnerable students, in the process ensuring their students safety and well-being.

Speaker: Megan Carey

Sponsored by

This presentation provides an opportunity to enhance school transportation professionals and vendors relationships by discussing mutual areas of interest and promoting school transportation safety for children with disabilities.

Facilitator: Linda Bluth

Panelists: Kim Martin, Anthony Shields, Mike Jones & Maritza Valentin

Especially since COVID-19 cleaners and sprays designed for use once a week are being deployed several times a day on school buses. Are you aware of the chemical composition of the disinfectants you are using? A panel of experts will discuss what we know and what we don't about the short- and long-term effects of deep cleaning and disinfecting of school buses, and how to manage or dictate expectations of parents and school administrators.

Facilitator: Ryan Gray

Panelists: Richard Cooper, Sandy Dillman, Bobby Williams, & Charlie Vits

A consistent, positive experience on the way to school is important for every student — but it’s especially vital for students with disabilities, who thrive on structure and regularity. Research suggests it can take considerable time for a  child with disabilities to regain focus after disruptions, including long trips to school. When a trip to school starts off on the wrong foot, it can translate into a negative learning environment for the entire school day. When transporting students with disabilities, consistency is about building a dependable system and process around transportation so students can expect the same experience, day in and day out.

In this session, HopSkipDrive will partner with a district partner to share:

• Insights into unique transportation needs for students with disabilities
• What a consistent and positive student experience looks like for students with disabilities, based on key research
• How to create dependable systems with resource-constrained transportation departments
• How to communicate consistency to staff, and ensure documentation and implementation
• How to gain parents & caregivers buy-in
• Technology’s role in creating a consistent student experience

Facilitator: Stephen F. Fusco

Sponsored by 

The school bus driver shortage has never been worse, which has required student transporters to reach into their bag of tricks to keep up with fluid routing, especially when it comes to students with disabilities. Technology is proving to be a vital partner in keeping buses on the road and students delivered despite the staffing strains being felt. A panel of routing experts will discuss with STN Publisher Tony Corpin the avenues available to school districts and bus companies so they can continue providing this mandatory service to families.

Facilitator: Tony Corpin

Panelists: Frank Gazeley, Kim Martin, Richard Papa, & Pete Salinas

What is in your school bus evacuation plan? Learn the various considerations that should be made when creating, planning and implementing emergency plans the most at-risk student populations. The discussion will be lead by and attorney and former transportation director with insights shared from transportation leaders with experience working with students with disabilities and preschoolers.

Facilitator: Winship Wheatley

Panelists: Launi Harden, Kala Henkensiefken, & Diandra Neugent

Every child deserves to have a safe, clean, healthy ride to school. Propane is the environmentally friendly option to achieve that goal, and the cost-effective option to ensure students with disabilities and special needs have the chance to ride in these upgraded buses just like their peers. Propane buses can easily accommodate all students, and with a quiet ride, students arrive ready to learn. In this session, hear from Type A and Type C bus operators, as well as a parent and student about how propane autogas school buses have benefitted students and school districts across the country.

Facilitator: Stephen Whaley

Panelists: JW Barrett, Jack Kendrick, Shawn Kendrick, & Kelly Rhoudunda

Sponsored by 

Purchasing specialized equipment for the transportation of students with special needs has grown increasingly complicated amid historic supply chain shortages and price increases. Learn strategies that you can use to overcome these pain points and that can extend your organization’s purchasing power during difficult times.

Facilitator: Chris Thomas

Panelists: Launi Harden, Tony Pollard. & Kayne Smith

Research and real-world experience have prompted the evolution of basic safety tenets important to follow when transporting passengers who use wheelchairs. Join us for a discussion of these best practices as well as a review of the rationale behind them. Use of wheelchair tiedowns, occupant restraint systems, adapted equipment securements and postural supports systems will all be addressed in this informative and interactive session.

Facilitator: Sue Shutrump

Panelists: Laura Blankenship, Fred Doelker, & Miriam Manary

The best way to stay out of legal hot water when transporting students with disabilities and special needs is preparation, prevention and having a sense of legal issues arising from prior events. This panel, having considerable experience in transport management, legal concerns and expert witness services, will provide important insight into what can go wrong, what are the consequences and how to avoid missteps at the outset.

Facilitator: Charlie Hood

Panelists: Alex Robinson & Winship Wheatley

Trade Show & Tailgate Reception

Sponsored by

Trade Show + Lunch

Not to be confused with child safety restraint systems, seclusion and restraint practices were originally developed to address out-of-control student behavior in special education classroom settings to avoid injury to the student or others. But the practices can be misapplied. The U.S. Department of Education advises seclusion and restraint only be used when a child's behavior poses an imminent danger. It generally should never be used in a school bus environment? Or could it be? If so, when  and what training is necessary of staff?

Facilitator: Alexandra Robinson

Panelists: Josy Campbell & Fred Doelker,

Communication and teamwork can be paramount to the success of transporting students with special needs, especially when they require special services. This panel brings together the perspective of therapists and transportation to provide strategies for keeping open the lines of communication and to foster discussion and improved service for the children and students served.

Facilitator: Sue Shutrump

Panelists: Laura Blankenship, Sandy Dillman, & Karen Schwind

This presentation will provide strategies for understanding and managing behaviors of students with autism.  Participants will learn what mistakes to avoid and potential fears of the student that may be surprising.  You will learn to understand student behaviors, what behaviors to praise, how to enjoy the brief moments you have, and appreciate the assets these students offer to the world.  We’ll spend some time together inside the fascinating brain of a student with autism and have fun while we are there.

Facilitator: Jocelyn Taylor

A school bus maintenance expert shares insights for non-technical professionals so they can gain a better understanding on what is necessary to keep vehicles and equipment in tip-top shape.

Speaker: Bobby Williams

Hosted by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok. Limited seating available. Receive instruction from Q’Straint/Sure-Lok representatives on proper securement of wheelchairs in school buses. This class is a refresher training opportunity for TSD Roadeo contestants as well as main conference attendees.

Hosted by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok

How is transportation notified/involved when decisions are made for universal Pre-Kindergarten or promised transportation for all under 4 but you don't have the resources.

Facilitator: Jay Thurber

Gain confidence in your ability to better communicate with signing students. Join us as we learn simple phrases in American Sign Language, deconstruct common misconceptions related to the deaf and hard of hearing community, and have an opportunity to practice new skills obtained in our session.

Speaker: Eliza Clement

Transportation provided by Prosper ISD

This comprehensive event held at Prosper ISD features classroom learning and hands-on training on how to properly and safely plan for the evacuation of students with special needs and preschoolers during an emergency. Attendees will work through best-practices for creating an evacuation plan, including the identification of disabilities, training necessary for dispatch, and more. The training will then move outside to four stations for hands-on training: Belt-cutting and evacuation devices; fire extinguishers; familiarization with the bus and manual wheelchair lift; and a timed evacuation drill that will test attendees abilities to evacuate “students” secured in CSRS and wheelchairs, all while the bus is filled with “smoke” via a theater fog machine. A debrief of the exercises will follow.
(Lunch and transportation are included with separate registration.)

Transportation provided to and from Prosper ISD
Speakers: Denny Coughlin, Launi Harden, Aaron Harris, & Diandra Neugent

Facilitated: Kayne Smith

Panelists: Quanika Dukes-Spruill, Anthony Shields, & Caleb Williams

Determining the appropriate selection of vehicles other than school buses to transport students  in the name of efficiency requires understanding the needs of the students. How can decisions made for fiscal or operational efficiency reasons lead to unintendended negative consequences for both students and their parents?

Facilitator: Fred Doelker

Panelists: Kala Henkensiefken & Mike Jones

We all have difficulty transitioning from one activity to another, especially if we have to stop doing something really fun (like sitting on the beach) and start doing something less fun (like going to work). Participants will learn why transitions can be particularly difficult for students with autism and other disabilities and how to engineer the environment with fail-proof practices so students can be successful with their travel on a regular bus route.

Speaker: Jocelyn Taylor, Ed.D., SLP

How are decisions being made by school districts to "remedy" service interruptions and to avoid litigation by extending services or offering new services to students impacting transportation? Is extended school year or other compensatory services resulting in new best-practices that might not be necessary or appropriate? This panel will discuss strategies student transporters can employ to reduce the stress and workload and increase employee satisfaction. Be prepared to receive takeways for your trip home.

Facilitator: Alexandra Robinson

Panelists: Quanika Dukes-Spruill & Anthony Shields

Sponsored by