Policy 3541.2 - Transportation for Students With Disabilities

Transportation for Students With Disabilities

The Governing Board shall ensure that appropriate transportation services are provided for students with disabilities as specified in their individualized education program (IEP) or accommodation plan. The district shall make home-to-school transportation available for students at no cost to parents/guardians as specified in the student’s IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish criteria and procedures for determining the most appropriate mode of transportation for an individual student based on identified needs as determined in the IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan.

The Superintendent or designee shall arrange transportation schedules so that students with disabilities do not spend an excessive amount of time on buses compared to other students. Arrivals and departures shall not reduce the length of the school day for these students except as may be prescribed on an individual basis.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures to ensure compatibility between mobile seating devices and bus securement systems.

Rule 3541.2

Approved: 11/04/2003

Last Revised: 05/01/2007

Transportation for Students with Disabilities

Transportation for students with disabilities shall be provided in accordance with a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 accommodation plan.

If a disabled student is excluded from school bus transportation, the district shall provide alternative transportation at no cost to the student or parent/guardian provided that transportation is specified in the student’s IEP.

When contracting with a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency to provide special education services, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the contract includes general administrative and financial agreements related to the provision of transportation services if specified in the student’s IEP.

Guide dogs, signal dogs and service dogs trained to provide assistance to disabled persons may be transported in a school bus when accompanied by disabled students, disabled teachers or persons training the dogs.

Wheelchairs and Non-Instructional Operations

It is the intent of Lodi Unified School District to operate the safest possible lifts and use the safest possible tie-down equipment available for the transportation of its student requiring wheelchair transportation. Additionally, the parent’s help is needed to maintain safe transportation of wheelchairs and travel chairs. Pursuant to Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 1293, “WHEELCHAIRS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES AND A RESTRAINING BELT PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY THE OWNER OF THE CHAIR”. Transportation by school bus may be discontinued unless these devices are properly maintained by the owner.

It is the parent / guardian’s responsibility to assure that the wheelchair meets all standards set forth concerning all safety mechanisms required by law, all individual safety adaptations required by the student and all safety policies required by the Lodi Unified School District Transportation Department.

Transportation by a school bus cannot be provided if these requirements are not met.

1. Students shall be transported in their individual wheelchair only.
2. While being loaded, unloaded, and transported, the student must be secured in the wheelchair by restraints meeting the specifications of the law. Seat belts must be equipped with metal connectors and push button or lift cover releases. (Velcro held restraints utilized for additional support may be used in addition to, but not in place of, restraints described above.)
3. Individual safety adaptations deemed necessary for additional safety and support, shall be required for transportation by school bus. (Individual safety adaptations information shall be provided to the Transportation Department as it is available.)
4. The wheelchair must be secured within the bus by the use of restraints, i.e., tie downs, in such a way as to prevent the chair from rotating, to prevent the chair wheels from leaving the floor area in case of sudden movement and to support the chair in the event the vehicle overturns. Brakes must be locked in the “on” position while being transported.
5. Tie downs shall contact the wheelchair on at least (4) points, spaced for most effective securement.
6. Electric wheelchairs shall be capable of being locked in gear when transported on a school bus or shall have an independent braking system capable of holding the chair in place.
7. Batteries used to propel the electric wheelchair shall be both leak and spill resistant and shall be placed in a leak resistant container. Batteries shall be secured to wheelchair frame in such a manner as to prevent separation in the event of an accident.
8. Wheelchair brakes shall hold firmly, with no wheel movement when placed in an “on” position.
9. Inspections of wheelchairs will be conducted by staff, supervisors, and drivers as needed. New or different wheelchairs will need to be inspected by transportation prior to being transported.
10. Car seats when required will be arranged for by the driver and shall be an approved, properly equipped car seat as needed. Car seats shall meet federal standards. A child who is under 6 years or under 60 pounds, unless exempted in accordance with Vehicle Code 27360 or 27363, is properly secured in a rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restraint system meeting federal safety standards.