A Survey of Transportation Services for Children With Disabilities

Abstract

Although many students with disabilities are transported daily in school vehicles, few state guidelines address special transportation needs. This study collected information from two states on the types of vehicles and safety restraints used, and the problems encountered by public schools, community agencies, and rehabilitation centers that transport people with disabilities from birth to 21 years of age. The information collected, together with a review of research on special needs transportation, contributed toward development of state regulations for school buses used to transport special education students. Vehicular transportation safety is an important part of individualized education planning for the 18.6% of occupational therapists working in schools. Using this study's questionnaires, occupational therapists who are primary resources for selection of seating and transportation equipment may become informed advocates for implementing safer transportation on an individual and state level for clients with disabilities.

State of the Science Workshop on Wheelchair Transportation Safety

“…The concern expressed in this survey repeats the concern found in a smaller survey over 10 years ago (Everly, Bull, Stroup, Goldsmith, Doll, & Russell, 1993). At that time, respondents were asked to recommend improvements in methods of safe transportation.…”

“…Despite limited research regarding the injury risk associated with wheelchair seating systems and PSDs, guidelines and best practice documents have been developed to address their use during transit. Current guidelines and best practice documents (Everly et al, 1993;Washtenaw Intermediate School District, 1995;University of Michigan, 2003;Zimmerman, 2003;American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001;North Carolina State University, 2003;Hobson & Schneider, 2003) consistently recommend that all individuals who can transfer to vehicle seats should do so. Both the Washtenaw School District (1995) and the North Carolina Public Schools transportation guides (North Carolina State University, 2003) explicitly recommend that students who use low-back wheelchairs should transfer to vehicle seats for transit.…”

Road vehicle transportation of children with physical and behavioral disabilities: A literature review

“…The review highlighted the need to investigate the gap between regulations and real world practice to clearly define barriers to the safe transportation of children with disabilities and develop appropriate interventions. One of the included studies [13] in the review pointed towards 'behavioral problems' being the most pertinent challenge in transporting children with disabilities. The current study builds on this literature review by adopting a systematic methodology to collate, evaluate and synthesize available evidence on the transportation of children with both physical and behavioral disabilities.…”

Injury risk of a 6-year-old wheelchair-seated occupant in a frontal motor vehicle impact—‘ANSI/RESNA WC-19’ sled testing analysis

“…The results of a survey study on transportation of children with disabilities conducted by Everly et al indicated that a large percentage of children (44%) transported daily have poor head and trunk control and are therefore unable to sit upright without support [6]. Therefore, children with disabilities who must travel seated in their wheelchairs are often excluded from the protections dictated by the FMVSS 213, as well as by other laws relating to child protection in MVCs.…”

“…Children with disabilities are transported daily to schools and developmental educational facilities. The survey study conducted by Everly et al shows that a majority of children using transportation services are school aged children, 6-17 years old [6]. When children are transported, they often remain seated in their wheelchairs in vehicles, such as school buses and family vans.…”