Driving the conversation on special needs transportation

by Jennifer LeHuquet

More than 30 drivers and dispatchers were present at Riverside School Board (RSB) for a workshop on best practices for transporting students with special needs on September 19. The workshops were offered to all drivers who work with populations of students who attend Riverside’s REACH School, as well as students who attend regional programs on the school board’s territory.

The presenters, Lina Bluteau and Charlotte Couture, are occupational therapists who work closely with students with physical and neurological differences. Participants learned about the profile of clientele, internal and external factors that affect the transportation of students, safety concerns and how to mitigate them, and best practices for working with students with special needs. The interactive approach allowed them to ask questions, raise concerns and leave with practical tools and strategies to improve the transportation experience for everyone involved.

 People attending the session came away with a better understanding of the students they interact with and the importance of their role as a partner in the child’s development. Drivers were happy to see this program return after having been suspend- ed for several years due to Covid-19.

The session was one in a series of work- shops offered by Riverside’s Transportation Department for transporters. The next series of workshops will be offered to all drivers on Riverside’s territory and focuses on first aid and rescue training to deal with emergency preparedness.

Jennifer LeHuquet is coordinator of Complementary Services at the Riverside School Board. The workshop was a collaboration between the board’s Transportation Services and Complementary Services.