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For children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), transportation is considered a related service and a part of their education. This paper presents an overview of the current status of wheelchair transportation for students on school buses within the United States. The review includes the school transportation environment for wheelchair-seated students, applicable regulations and voluntary standards, primary safety issues for wheelchair-seated students, and key stakeholders roles in improving wheelchair transportation safety. Future actions to improve wheelchair transportation safety in school transportation are discussed, including the need to improve data collection, mandate payment for and use of RESNA WC19-compliant wheelchairs, improve training for bus operators and attendants, and require specialty certification for school bus operators who transport wheelchair-seated students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results from and provides discussion of a state-of-the-science workshop in which highly informed stakeholders in wheelchair transportation safety for students on school buses were participants. The Nominal Group Technique was used to create a process in which the main issues preventing safe transportation of wheelchair-seated students and key strategies to overcome these issues were identified and ranked. These results, along with a synthesis of group discussion and recommendations for action, are presented along with consideration of current policies, regulations, and political realities. Critical safety shortcomings exist in this highly specialized enterprise that varies from state to state. Recommended strategies include implementing wheelchair requirements in federal transportation safety standards, creation of a clearinghouse for wheelchair transportation best practices and education, creation of national standards for training, practices, and monitoring, and increased "buy-in" to voluntary wheelchair standards by wheelchair manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]