Supporting Successful Back-to-School Transitions for Disabled Children

Any parent who wants to successfully prepare their children for the start of a new school year must put in some effort. The transition from summer to school, however, can be a little trickier for parents of kids with special needs. Try these helpful suggestions to make the transition into the academic year easier for your child, whether it’s your child’s transportation to school or being in “the school”.

Tips for Back to School

Try some or all of this professional advice in the weeks before the start of school to ease the transition.

Give Teachers and Therapists Tools to Use with Your Child

To make sure accommodations are in place, if at all possible, meet with your child's teachers and therapists before the start of the school year and go over the IEP or 504 plan.

Give your child a "Get to Know Me" document describing his teachers and subject-matter experts. Include details about your child's interests, talents, and difficulties; offer motivational advice; list any behavioral therapies you've found to be effective, and let them understand what skills you are practicing at home. You might want to include some foundational sources of data concerning your child's disability.

Familiarize Yourself with Disabled Child Transportation & Meal Plans

Once you've figured out your child’s transportation to and from school, go over the plan with them in advance to make sure they're familiar with it. Discuss where they will be picked up from home, dropped off at school, picked up from school, and dropped back off at home if they have a special disabled child transportation schedule.

Make sure those who ride in cars are aware of the procedure for parent pickup as well as where to find their ride home. Furthermore, you ought to discuss with them, what they can do and where they can go if they arrive at school before the bell rings.

Additionally, if your child doesn't have a set lunchtime location, we advise that you make a plan in advance. Find places where the student feels secure or at ease so they can eat and interact with their peers.

Practice Your Child’s Transportation Procedures

Make sure your child is aware of where they will be dropped off and picked up at home and at school, as well as how they will get there (by foot, car, or bus).

Put a tag on their backpack with their bus number so they can remember it. Consider writing it on their hand during the first week.

Practice your morning routine the morning before classes begin, making sure to include getting dressed, eating breakfast, preparing backpacks, and arriving at the car or bus stop on time.

We suggest you look for trusted child transportation for your kid with disabilities or specialized disabled child transportation to meet your child’s needs!