Take a moment to think about your daily routine and how much of it involves transportation. Whether it’s driving to work, taking children to school, or heading to the grocery store, transportation plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of life. In fact, the average person spends about 12,480 minutes, or roughly 208 hours, in the car each year. That’s a significant amount of time devoted to simply getting from one place to another.
Although transportation takes time, it is also a gateway to independence. It allows people to reach employment, attend school, live independently, and stay connected socially. For individuals with disabilities, having equal access to transportation is critical for achieving their personal goals. Without reliable and accessible transportation, a student or adult may struggle to participate fully in education, work, or community life.
Transportation and the IEP
For students with disabilities, transportation is not just a convenience. It can be a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If a student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and experiences challenges using the general education bus, the IEP team must determine what supports are necessary and document them clearly.
These supports may include riding a bus designed for students with disabilities, having an aide or monitor ride along for safety, using specialized equipment such as a wheelchair lift or harness, or providing door-to-door service if the student cannot get to the bus stop safely.
The start of the school year is the perfect time for families to review their child’s IEP and ensure that transportation needs are addressed. Without written documentation, important supports may be overlooked.
Preparing for Life Beyond School
Once a student exits the school system, navigating community transportation can feel overwhelming. Unlike school-provided buses, community options require more independence and problem-solving skills. That is why it is essential not to wait until high school transition services begin to address transportation goals. The earlier a student begins practicing, the more confident and capable they will be when using public or community-based transportation on their own.
Building Transportation Skills in the IEP
Here are some practical ways families and schools can work together to increase opportunities for learning about transportation:
Start early. Mention the student’s long-term goals for community access during IEP meetings, even in middle school.
Incorporate technology. Ask for direct support in using GPS or navigation tools on a smartphone or tablet.
Practice as a family. Encourage independence in safe, everyday ways. Allow the student to use a device to follow directions while on a family walk. Have them track the route during a car ride, matching what the GPS says to the actual roads. Turn it into a game, such as a scavenger hunt, where the student uses the GPS to find landmarks in the community. Families can also practice using rideshare services like Uber or Lyft together. Ordering a ride, meeting the driver, and following the route in real time helps students become familiar with the process in a safe, supervised way.
Request IEP goals related to transportation. For example, a goal could be: “Student will use a navigation app to plan and follow a route with 80 percent accuracy.”
Ask for direct instruction. School personnel can provide hands-on practice, role-playing, or even supervised community trips.
Review and update annually. As students grow, their transportation needs change. Goals should evolve to match their skills and ambitions.
Think big. If the student’s long-term dream is to drive, ask how the school can help lay the groundwork, such as supporting driver’s education readiness or practicing safety awareness.
Transportation as a Life-Changing Tool
So much of life depends on the ability to get from place to place. Reliable transportation is not just about mobility; it is about opportunity, independence, and dignity. By weaving transportation training into the IEP and practicing consistently at home, schools and families can give students the tools they need to thrive in adulthood.
Don’t wait to get started. Every minute spent building transportation skills is an investment in the future. If you need support in navigating the many transportation options available in Tennessee, reach out to Tennessee Disability Pathfinder. Together, we can ensure that every student has access to the resources they need, so each minute of life is spent reaching goals, not worrying about how to get there.