1. Serving Students in the Least Restrictive Environment
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Serving Students in the Least Restrictive Environment
A New Model for
Special Education Transportation
Pete Meslin
Director of Transportation
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Background.
Speaking about LRE, FAPE,
Special ed. / Transp. Partnership
Saving $ in special ed. / Transportation
How to attend an IEP
Wrote the state guidelines for transporting students with disabilities
Prepared for the:
34th Annual Idaho Association for Pupil Transportation Summer Conference
20th National TSD&P Conference & Expo

2. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
A Related Service
2004 Revisions to IDEA
What does LRE mean?
What do other related services do?
Why aren’t there expectations and goals about progress in transportation?
If someone comes to us that is non-verbal, what do we do.
Speech therapy vs. transportation
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

3. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
About 70% of the avg. school district’s special education population is appropriately served at a bus stop other than curbside.
About 10% actually are.
Small Bus
Curbside service w/o “must be met.”
Costs estimated up to 10x more to transport these students.
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

4. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Obstacles
For Special Education Administrators
For Special Education Teachers
For Transportation Departments
Sped admin. - Partnership, Accountability for costs, Data, Language, Consistency, Understanding of IDEA,Fear of Compromising Safety
Sped teacher – All that + parent pressure, Knowledge of transp. capabilities & options, Knowledge of skills needed, time, Support and recognition from above, knowledge on how to teach, accountability
Trans. – All that + “Tail of the Dog”,Knowledge to customize systems for each student (and attend IEPs appropriately), Relationships with other services (nurses, therapists, etc.), don’t consider ourselves educators
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5. Current Means to Overcome Obstacles
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Current Means to Overcome Obstacles
Constant Work on the Partnership
Training & Re-training
Nagging errrrr Reporting frequently
Attending IEPs
Check with the “experts”
Finding “Champions”
Getting mandates
Experts – Access & Mobility, Peggy’s book.
Champion – Someone who gets it. Reward them. Give them recognition.
We’re at 57% but isn’t there another easier way?
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6. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta’ put up with the rain.
Dolly Parton

7. It’s About Skills and Expectations
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
It’s About Skills and Expectations
Life skills learned at 19 aren’t internalized as well as skills learned and practiced at an earlier age.
“Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations. “ Bob Beauprez
Early language immersion example.
The tyranny of lowered expectations.
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

8. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Independence Matrix
Program
Pre-Kgn & Kindergarten
1st – 3rd
4th – 6th
7th – 9th
10th–12th
Post 12th
Autism Program SDC
Curb
Trans
Cent.
Fully Included Autism Program
Cent
Mild/Moderate SDC
No Service
Moderate/Severe SDC
Adult Transition Program
n/a
Pub. Trans. VI
RSP
ED SDC
DHH
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9. Skills Ladder Overview
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Skills Ladder Overview
Curbside
Transitional
Centralized (Neighborhood)
Public Transit or Transportation Not a Related Service
Does a ladder paint a better visual, how about progression
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10. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Transferable Skills
Mobility skills are life skills.
Social skills, like presenting passes or greeting drivers, can transfer to the transportation setting.
Some skills, like reading a transportation schedule, may not transfer as easily
Teachers should look for opportunities to teach transferable skills
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11. Transportation No Longer a Related Service
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Transportation No Longer a Related Service
If the student can access the educational program in the same manner as his/her typical peers.
Program is located in the regular area of attendance.
Student’s disabilities no longer are a factor preventing access.
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12. A New Paradigm
Teachers have educational tools, guidelines, & accountability
The IEP team has assessment tools
Students have expectations
Transportation offers support at all levels of service
Students progress towards independence

13. Independence Lesson Plans
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Independence Lesson Plans
Practice with the educational staff.
Practice with the driver in the classroom.
Practice with the driver, attendant, and bus at the classroom.
Practice with the driver and bus at the stop.
This is not a new concept. CBI has been doing this for years. This is a just a little twist on it.
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

14. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Implications
Transporters as Educators
Turns problem behaviors into areas for teaching skills (Pos. Behavior Support) / BSPs
More Interaction supporting students
Shouldn’t other services be teaching skills and striving for independence?
Significant Cost Savings.
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

15. Light Tomorrow with Today
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

16. More Work for Transportation?
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
More Work for Transportation?
Bring a bus to the class
Help create / teach a lesson
Logistics of transitional stops
Seating plans for shared buses
Know a lot more about our kids
Do a lot more FOR our kids!!!
20th National TSD&P Conf. & Expo

17. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.
Anonymous

18. What Independence Really Means
Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
What Independence Really Means
Now I finally feel like a person.
15 year old student transitioning to public transit
Henry O.
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19. Meslin / Wolf Transportation Independence
Contact Me
(714)
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