Written by Dewayne Ellis, Special Needs Trainer
The Portage Township Schools Transportation Department is dedicated to providing students and staff with safe and efficient transportation. Currently serving more than 8,000 students to and from school daily, students are transported to eight elementary, two middle, and the high school in Portage. Additionally, the Portage Township Schools Transportation Department transports students to specialized programming in Chesterton, Valparaiso, and Indiana School for the Deaf and Blind in Indianapolis.
Drivers must maintain order and discipline to provide safe transportation for all students. Every precaution to ensure the safety of students is taken by the PTS transportation staff. PTS drivers are highly trained in classroom and road experience, carrying a Commercial Driver License (CDL) and state certification credentials. A subgroup of these drivers has the responsibility to safely transport our exceptional learners to their educational destination. Drivers and attendants that service this group of young men and women have extraordinary patience, mental alertness, flexibility, resourcefulness, enthusiasm, personal warmth, friendliness, understanding and empathy. More than 250 learners with specialized needs are transported to and from school daily.
Before becoming a special needs driver or attendant, staff members complete an in-depth training program familiarizing drivers and attendants alike with the characteristics of their special needs passengers. Additional training is offered periodically, keeping everyone updated with current information and procedures. They learn the importance of being respectful of the students' personal space to include allowing students to do things for themselves, such as latching their own seat belt when at all possible. In addition to sensitivity training, issues of confidentiality, equipment and how to utilize each device properly, behavior and health planning and correct loading and unloading procedures are learned. Understanding the uniqueness of each child and the necessity for team work is stressed. Drivers also receive training on bullying and harassment.
Transporting students with disabilities is a highly personalized service, requiring a thorough understanding of a student's physical, social, and emotional capabilities to accommodate each as needed. The varying needs of students with disabilities requires transportation personnel to have familiarity with a wide range of practices and services. Whatever the situation, driver and attendant are expected to, and must be ready to serve the students' needs.
There is a wide range of students that receive specialized transportation to include children with autism, cognitive impairment, deafness and hearing impairment, developmental delay, emotional disabilities, language impairment, learning disabled and multiple disabilities. Drivers and attendants realize that the daily bus ride can be an important part of a child's progress toward independence. The child learns how to leave his home, meet the bus, cross the street, and show correct behavior on the bus. Drivers and attendants explain the rules and regulations regarding bus travel and students learn to follow these rules. Working as a team, drivers and attendants work to provide each student with a pleasant travel experience.
Portage Township Transportation Department takes their roles and responsibilities to the safe transport of their students seriously. Both driver and attendant work together to provide our students with a safe form of transportation; starting and ending their day with a smile.