By Linda F. Bluth, Ed.D.

It became evident to me in January 2000 that a new century would provide repeated opportunities for "now and then moments" regarding transportation progress for students with disabilities.

If memory serves me correctly, one area from the turn of the century that deserves high marks for progress is wheelchair transport. Feeling a bit senior and reminding myself that I preceded, P.L. 94-142 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, I recall the status of wheelchair transport back to the mid-1960s.

When I entered the teaching profession in 1966, I cannot recollect one student utilizing a wheelchair in the "regular" public school where I worked as a special education teacher. In fact, across our nation only limited numbers of students using wheelchairs were attending public or private schools for physically handicapped students. Getting a physically handicapped student to and from school prior to 1975 was generally a parent's responsibility; very few school districts provided that service.

With the passage of P.L. 94-142 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, handicapped students across the nation were entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) including the related service transportation. Transportation was required for many students in order for them to benefit from special education. School districts were now faced with the challenge of transporting physically handicapped students to segregated and regular schools. Most of these students previously received home teaching from a special education teacher.

By the 1980s, the word was spreading rapidly that children previously excluded because they used wheelchairs were entitled to transportation.

Side Lifts
I can recall school buses pulling up to ramps providing access to school buildings. I was beginning to see an increasing number of school buses with side lifts each morning and afternoon. I remember my first ride on a school bus with a lift; the noise of the lift prevented me from communicating with the driver or students.

In the 80s, wheelchair transport was far from sophisticated, however with little guidance, and limited securement apparatus, drivers were dedicated to the students they transported and did the best they could under the circumstances. While little was said about safety, it was a concern.

As public consciousness was moving forward regarding safe transport of wheelchairs, one bold individual by the name of Lyle Stephens, a contractor from Lansing, Mich. stands out in my memory for making a notable difference. I can remember at the 4th Annual Conference on Transporting Students with Disabilities the high point of the meeting being when Stephens and Kellie Dean, of Dean transportation presented a letter announcing that they were contributing $50,000 to the ANSI/RESNA Subcommittee on Wheelchairs and Transportation (SOWHAT). This contribution was later matched by a $50,000 grant from the Great Lake Center for Truck and Transit Research. Additional funding followed from a number of Transportation associations. What was clear to me was that this move would offset the inevitable defeat in the 6th District Court of Appeals regarding the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA) responsibility to set wheelchair transport standards.

NHTSA Involvement
As I expected, the 6th District Court of Appeals rejected a petition that NHTSA was responsible for establishing crashworthiness standards. It was ruled that a wheelchair was not motor vehicle equipment and, therefore, NHTSA was not responsible for setting wheelchair transport standards. The irony was that NHTSA would soon fund university-related research.

By the time of the 5th Annual National Conference and Exhibition on Transporting Students with Disabilities in 1996, wheelchair transport made its mark with a workshop on wheelchair transport safety. Much has happened since this time.

The mid-1990s, in my opinion, marked a time for "wheelchair mindfulness."

Manufactures of securement and occupant restraint systems progressed substantially in the production of more user-friendly equipment along with enhanced training opportunities at national and state conferences. Handling new wheelchair transport equipment at trade shows became a mainstream activity. In fact, this past year I left the NAPT trade show with dynamic poster for my office, courtesy of RICON. More recently, transportation Road-eos have added wheelchair competition as a part of their programs. While a bit technical for my knowledge base, I have attempted to follow the ANSI/RESNA WC/19 "Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles" on the website http//www.rerc.upmc.edu/. When you get to this site don't forget to check out WheelchairNet.

The Future
Now is a good time to ask, "What is ahead for wheelchair transport on school buses. One thing is for sure; we need to continue the efforts and momentum of the past decade. In addition, it would be helpful if parents could be assisted to be better-informed consumers of wheelchairs for their children, including wheelchair use on the school bus. Too often, a wheelchair is purchased without school bus transportation as a consideration, making safe transportation increasingly difficult.

Vendors of wheelchairs, occupational and physical therapists, and school district transportation personnel need to keep in mind the importance of planning for safe transportation on a daily basis. This includes multiple considerations such as appropriate use and maintenance of equipment, evacuation drills and loading and unloading procedures. It is essential to maintain up-to-date information about wheelchair transport options especially securement and occupant restraint systems. School district transportation and special education personnel cannot overestimate the importance of school bus driver and monitor training.

If the interests and efforts from the previous century serve as a barometer of an industry's dedication to safe wheelchair transport, the road ahead has been paved with commitment from the transportation community.

Linda Bluth is the chief of the Community and Interagency Services Branch at the Maryland State Department of Education. She is a regular contributor to STN and can be reached 410/767-0264 or by e-mail at Lbluth@aol.com.

Source: Reprinted from School Transportation News, March 2000. All rights reserved.