Safety for All: Autism Training for Transportation Staff (Online Training Series) VCU-ACE (Autism Center for Education)

Description:

Bus drivers and transportation staff work directly with students with autism and are responsible for their and others' safety during the routes. Drivers and assistants are the first faces students see in the morning and the last ones in the afternoon. They are critical liaisons between home and school and often have more interaction with parents than other school staff. Beyond simply driving, transportation staff are in charge of managing behavior, implementing accommodations, and collaborating with school-based staff. This training gives perspectives and strategies for working with students with autism and supporting their communication and behavioral needs in a transportation setting.

"Safety for All: Autism Training for Transportation Staff" is a hybrid training series designed specifically to meet the needs of this unique group. Participants first complete two hours of online video modules, followed by live discussion and activities facilitated by division special education and transportation staff. The online learning component comprises smaller modules covering the characteristics of autism and strategies for working with these students, with examples specific to bus drivers and staff. Modules are accessible to participants through the MyACE Dashboard, which allows users to customize their autism knowledge discovery in several topics and earn badges for their progress.