FRISCO, Texas — Transportation safety experts gathered at TSD Conference to address a critical challenge: Teaching school bus safety to students with disabilities through innovative, personalized approaches that go beyond traditional instruction methods.
The session presented Saturday by Jill Metcalfe, a former executive director of student transportation and founder of STSB Training, highlighted the transformative power of social stories and visual aids, revealing that students with disabilities often learn best through carefully crafted, individualized communication strategies. She emphasized the importance of creating visual narratives that speak directly to each student’s unique learning needs.
“If I was in a wheelchair and had never ridden a school bus before, I would lose my mind,” said Metcalfe, a transportation safety specialist, highlighting the overwhelming experience many students with disabilities face during daily transportation…