I happen to be a special needs bus driver and when school begins, we go out to all the families and introduce ourselves meet the kids and parents and they are never on the bus longer than 45 minutes max. If the time for the child needs to be shorter we do our best to accomodate that. I have one child I pick up at 2 and she's home by 2:25. She cannot ride with others because she can become violent but I have had no problems with her. She loves the bus. It might be best if you could go along with your child once or twice then they would know what to expect and maybe not be frightened.
That is great if your school district does that. Here in Minneapolis they don't. I know Gabe was wrote up for stuff that, at his developmental age he is expected to do. For example he was wrote up for jumping off the steps instead of walking down them. Duhhhhhhhhhh helloooooo!!!! that is what a 3 to 5 year old does. And even his teacher didn't agree with the bus driver. But I have to have a special transportation meeting for that. And the woman in charge, well, lets just say, Gabes camels could do a better job. Here all you have to have is a valid drivers license and you are hired to be a bus driver. No special requirements. And like I said, the IEP has to be very specific in regards to transportation.
Tammy
Andy loved riding the school bus!!! He has an older brother so we were able to tell him that he'd "be just like Tommy). Counting the days until school starts, and showing him pics of the bus would also be good.
Most school districts have their buses make trial runs of their special ed routes before the first day of school. If that's true with your district, you might be able to set up an appointment so that you can meet the driver and aide before the first day of school. Should help make the experience a little easier.
Kim
That really depends on alot of factors.
1.) Does he get over stimulated easily?
2.) Is the bus crowded?
3.) Will the bus run on schedule?
4.) Are the personnel on the bus trained specifically to deal with him and his disability?
5.) Is there an aide on the bus?
6.) On the route is he picked up first, in the middle, or at the end?
7.) How long is the bus ride?
8.) Is he rigid in his thinking and patterns? For example Jeffrey thought you took the same route everyday. No exceptions.
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Those are just a few questions I can think of right now. That is the main reason why we had to have a transportation meeting for Jeffrey and have the results of that meeting in his IEP.
Tammy
Hey Mom Maybe if you can take him into the city and ride a city bus and tell him it will be somewhat similar except you dont have to pay?
Our school amazingly enough actually has an orentation and they get a snack in the lunch room and a small bus ride. Tyler loved it although he stresses over the noise and stimulation on his bus ride to and from school.