menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITPmenauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP CHALLENGES OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEED ALEX ROBINSON 1

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITPmenauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Transporting Students with Disabilities - Training Required for Students Using Wheelchairs & Other Adaptive Equipment Alexandra H. Robinson, M.Ed., CDPT Executive Director, New York City Department of Education Office of Pupil Transportation New York, USA

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Initial Planning Is a transfer out of chair reasonable? Safer to ride in seat designed for transportation – Small children/Students who use wheelchairs for long distances/Students whose wheelchair fails to give adequate support Safest transfer process

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Basic Safety Principles When Transporting Wheelchairs Wheelchair in good working order/Seating system locked onto frame Work as a team to acquire the safest transportation scenario Encourage purchase of transit wheelchairs – More intermixing of manufacture/vendor components is available – More than just securement points – Wheelchair-anchored lap belt option now required for compliance – Revision requires crash-tested harness on chairs designed for passengers less than 50 pounds Crash tested seating systems available meet WC 20 especially beneficial for those with need for customized seating List of transit technology available at: transportation-safety.umtri.umich.edu

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Best Practices When Transporting Wheelchairs Not Designed For Transportation Four-point tie downs crash tested at 30 mph and 20 g force conditions (Tested to SAE J2249 now WC 18) – Forward facing placement in vehicle – Attachment to frame not accessories/components/removable parts – Choose points as high as possible but below the seat – Welded joints/Hardened fasteners/Don’t cross straps/Straight belt path/Use all belts per manufacturer’s guidelines – Securement strap preferred angles – Front: between 40 and 60 degrees/Rear: between 30 and 45 degrees – Front angled outboard for stability/Rear straps directly back – Marking/documenting securement points

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menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP 7 Hardened Fasteners

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menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Best Practice In Working with Challenging Chair Types Three wheeled wheelchairs or scooters – Unoccupied/Shroud modified to expose frame Extra heavy chairs – Transport on larger vehicles/Extra belts in the rear/Beware of heavy chair components Wheelchairs with difficult tiedown sites – Expand team/Quick straps when additional straps needed or sites not easily accessible Tilt in space wheelchairs – Recline angle/All tiedowns on one frame

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Occupant Restraint System Shoulder belt/Lap belt Wheelchair Accessory Components and Supportive Equipment Head support systems/Trunk/extremity supports Lap trays Adaptive equipment Oxygen Batteries

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Other Issues of Concern for Safe Travel of Those with Special Needs Safe boarding – General principles – Student should not be carried onto or off of bus/No one should stand on the lift – If difficulty boarding-consult IEP team » Loaner equipment pool – Lift – Manual wheelchairs/Power wheelchairs Sensitivities/Medical Conditions

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Evacuation Individualized Evacuation Plans – Amount of supervision/assistance necessary – Ambulation Aides/Devices Can’t be relied upon in true emergency – Students who use wheelchairs – Remove From wheelchair in true emergency/Emergency treatment procedures – Secondary factors which impact mobility/evacuation – Brittle bones/Shunts/Spinal rods/Decreased physical endurance – Route Specific Evacuation Plans/Environmental considerations – Choice of CSRS to support quick egress/Equipment – Student involvement in drills 14

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Safe Lifting/Student Handling Interdisciplinary Training for Safety During Drills and True Evacuations – Avoid use of stairs – Do not attempt full lift of student more than 50 pounds – “Heart to part” – “Lock back in”- maintain normal curves of back – Weight lifter position – No twisting – Wide base of support – Lift instruction 15

menauitpuitptransport#MENAUITP Documentation Individual Transportation Plan (ITP) Special Needs Transportation Evaluation Report Transportation Review Checklist On-Board ITP 16