FRISCO, Texas — Behavior specialist Patrick Mulick kicked off the educational sessions at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference by explaining the significance of reducing the reliance on one to one adult support and the importance of having an independent mindset when working with students with disabilities.

“I am not here to help you. I am here to help you help you,” said Mulick, who is the autism coordinator for the Auburn School District in Washington, on Friday.

The five-time TSD Conference speaker has spent over two decades educating students with disabilities, from preschool to high school. The reason why he works in education? To be a difference maker. For Mulick, one of the biggest ways to make a difference in the lives of students with disabilities is by helping them reach a greater level of independence.

“Kids don’t grow because we do things for them,” he said. “Kids grow because we challenge and support them to do things on their own.”

Mulick discussed numerous reasons why one-to-one adult support can have negative effects on students with disabilities, the first of which being unnecessary dependence. He noted how a student with a disability might be hesitant to act without expected adult direction, prompting or cueing.

Additionally, students may experience a lack of interaction with peers as the one-to-one adult aide can create physical or symbolic barriers that interfere with those interactions.

Mulick also discussed how students may experience embarrassment or discomfort from having an adult present. Some students with disabilities may even express their dislike of one-to-one support through inappropriate behavior.

Originally from Boring, Oregon, there is nothing monotonous about the charismatic Mulick. He solicited from attendees a loud “whoo” when asking him how they were feeling, rather than a mundane “good.” He set up his talk with humor by recounting the “struggle” with independence of his parents. The Oregon ban on self-service fueling only expired three years ago. In his new home of Washington state, however, where self-serve has been legal, he would need to assist his parents whenever they visited.

Mulick explained how gas stations in Oregon now provide step-by-step visual instructions to help motorist figure out how to pump their own gas. He used this example to demonstrate how important visuals can be to students with disabilities and the importance of promoting their independence.

“A well-used visual is worth a thousand verbal reminders,” Mulick said.

The idea resonated with attendee Melanie Tsosie, a bus driver from Piñon Community School in Arizona.

“Introducing visuals and helping regulate. That’s what I got out of this,” she said.

Another key takeaway from Mulick’s presentation was the importance of predictability. He outlined five steps that can ultimately help students with disabilities have an easier time navigating their daily routines. Start with setting a routine, which leads to predictability, then reliability and trust. A feeling of safety follows, resulting in tangible success for the student.

“If there is no plan to remove the training wheels, then you are only training the child to be dependent on them,” Mulick said.

Kyle Guison, who works in special needs transportation with Springfield R12 School District in Missouri, couldn’t agree more.

“How can we help our students with special needs increase their independence?” Guison said. “Which is ultimately what we all want, both on the special education and the transportation side.”

Mulick also shared the idea of shifting the language when attempting to help students with disabilities reach a level of independence. Instead of saying “remove” or “take out the adult,” Mulick advised that educators use phrases like “increasing opportunities for independence.” This shift in language not only changes how to approach student support but also help parents move from a mindset of protecting their children to one focused on building their skills.

Mulick concluded with a quote from Helen Keller, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”

Related: (STN Podcast E223) Challenges & Consistency: Patrick Mulick Unlocks Autism on the School Bus
Related: Fan Favorite Mulick Provides Student Transporters Tips for De-Escalation
Related: Mulick Returns to TSD Conference with Keys to Unlocking Autism

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School transportation professionals who need supervisor approval to attend the 2026 Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference and Trade Show have a resource to help make their case: A downloadable, customizable supervisor-approval letter provided by School Transportation News.

The template is designed to help prospective attendees demonstrate how conference participation can benefit their transportation operations. It outlines the event’s educational and networking opportunities, highlights keynote presentations and includes an itemized cost estimate for registration, airfare, lodging, transportation and meals. TSD Conference begins Nov. 4 and 5 with the Transportation Director Summit, which requires separate approval to attend. The full conference runs from Nov. 6-10 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center in Frisco, Texas.

Users can personalize the letter with their supervisor’s name, specific conference sessions relevant to their responsibilities, and current organizational priorities. The template also emphasizes sharing newly acquired knowledge with colleagues afterward, extending the value of the investment beyond a single attendee.

Training is essential to the industry’s commitment to safety, efficiency and service, especially when transporting students with disabilities and preschoolers. These particularly vulnerable student populations require specialized knowledge, equipment, individualized planning and communication strategies that are not always addressed in general transportation training.

Few educational opportunities provide the depth and concentration of professional development found at the TSD Conference, where the entire program focuses on these students and the transportation professionals who serve them.

The full conference agenda addresses behavior management, legal compliance, Head Start transportation, emergency response, student independence and operational best practices. Keynote speakers include behavior specialist Patrick Mulick, special education attorney Julie Weatherly and former federal special education official Glenna Wright-Gallo.

Special training opportunities include the eight-hour, hands-on seminar on proper child passenger safety instruction, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as wheelchair and occupant securement certification, and hands-on emergency evacuation training. The Transportation Director Summit and Special Needs Roadeo offer additional leadership development and practical learning opportunities. Certain activities require separate registration, additional fees or both.

Professional networking is another important component. Attendees can connect during the Nov. 5 welcome reception at Topgolf The Colony and the Nov. 6 Ride & Drive + Technology Demonstration.

The Nov. 8 TSD Trade Show and Tailgate Reception, scheduled from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., will feature approximately 70 exhibitors showcasing products, technology and services. Additional networking and trade show information is available online.

Prospective attendees are encouraged to download the supervisor-approval letter, identify relevant training opportunities and submit their requests while time remains.

Registration remains open online, and attendees also may register in person at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco. Space in certain specialized training sessions is limited.

Related: Special Needs Roadeo Returns to TSD Conference with Expanded Training, Team Challenges
Related: Workshop on Solving Challenging Transportation Scenarios to Close TSD Conference
Related: New Date Set for NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD

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A Polk County school bus driver and attendant were arrested after onboard video allegedly showed them repeatedly spraying a 15-year-old student with disabilities with disinfectant cleaner to “teach him a lesson.”

According to arrest affidavits provided to School Transportation News, Jeffrey Larson, 65, and William “Cody” Roberts, 32, were each charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony. Both were taken to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center without incident.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Sept. 22. Maggie Reynolds, the Karen M. Siegel Academy principal, noticed an increase in student behavior referrals involving bus No. 1611 and requested video footage from the Polk County School Board, the affidavits state.

The school bus transported three students and was staffed by Larson and Roberts. Authorities described the 15-year-old student, who was not identified at this writing, as having an intellectual disability, functioning at a toddler-level mental capacity, and being unable to speak for himself.

Affidavit Provides Scope of Child Abuse Allegations

Video from Aug. 31 allegedly showed Larson spraying liquid directly in front of the student before spraying his face, torso and legs. A second clip allegedly showed Larson leave the driver’s seat, approach the student, and spray his face and the front of his body while saying, “Stop spitting.” The student then rubbed his face after Larson walked away, according to the affidavit.

During a second incident recorded on Sept. 2, Roberts allegedly looked toward an onboard camera, pulled a spray bottle from beside his body, and sprayed a stream of liquid onto the student’s back while the teenager was secured in his seat.

Investigators said they also heard someone say, “I’ll put a gag in your mouth if you don’t knock it off,” and “You’re gonna regret this.” Authorities could not determine who made the statements.

Roberts told investigators his first day working as the attendant on bus No. 1611 was Aug. 11. He admitted spraying the student in the face with a disinfectant cleaner “no more than five times” and said it was done to “teach him a lesson,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit alleges that Roberts said he witnessed Larson spray the student in the face twice for the same reason. He acknowledged that their actions were wrong because the disinfectant was an irritant that could adversely affect the student’s health and because the student did not understand their commands due to his disability and could not speak for himself.

Larson told investigators there were no spray bottles containing water aboard the bus but that it carried three bottles containing different cleaning products. He then invoked his right to an attorney.

Deputies obtained a search warrant and recovered a bottle labeled “Morning Fresh, Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.” Its warning label said the product should be kept away from children and could cause eye and skin irritation.

Polk County Public Schools told School Transportation News that Larson and Roberts also served Boswell Elementary and Tenoroc High School.

“PCPS does not tolerate this kind of behavior from our employees, and these two individuals will no longer have any involvement with our district,” the district stated. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”

The district did not clarify whether the men were terminated or resigned. The affidavits did not state whether the student received medical treatment or whether investigators had identified other alleged victims.

Related: New York School Bus Aide Arrested for Allegedly Abusing Children
Related:Alabama School Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Student with Special Needs
Related: Michigan Student with Special Needs Forgotten, Left on School Bus
Related: Florida School Bus Aide Arrested on Child Abuse Charge

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Linda Bluth will bring her decades of expertise in special needs transportation to two sessions at the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) National Conference in Frisco, Texas, examining how student transporters should respond when guidance is flawed or absent and what proposed federal changes could mean for Head Start transportation.

A TSD Conference Tenured Faculty member, Bluth has been associated with the training since its inception in 1992, when she delivered one of the inaugural conference’s keynote presentations. Her return continues a commitment to helping transportation professionals understand and meet the needs of students with disabilities and preschoolers.

Bluth’s career spans six decades of work in special education and school transportation. She is a past president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), a former chair of its Special Needs Committee and an NAPT Hall of Fame member. Her work has included federal and state education policy, school administration, professional training and extensive writing on transporting students with disabilities.

She also serves as an expert witness in legal cases nationwide involving school transportation safety and compliance, bringing a perspective informed by both daily operational challenges and the consequences when services fall short.

On Friday, Nov. 6, Bluth will moderate the opening general session, “When Guidance is Incorrect or Missing.” Fellow TSD Conference Tenured Faculty members Alexandra Robinson, Launi Harden and Sue Shutrump will join her for the panel discussion.

The session draws from Bluth’s column in the October edition of School Transportation News magazine. It will examine the importance of questioning direction from supervisors when that guidance conflicts with regulations, compliance obligations or best practices. Attendees will hear strategies for addressing these situations rather than simply accepting instructions that could compromise appropriate transportation services.

View the TSD Conference agenda

Bluth will also present “Head Start Transportation at a Crossroads” on Saturday, Nov. 7, addressing the potential implications of a federal notice of proposed rulemaking that would substantially reshape Head Start’s operating requirements.

The proposal, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, would rescind and replace the existing Head Start Program Performance Standards with a more limited federal framework. It would remove detailed requirements, including transportation provisions, while relying more heavily on state and local rules. The agency describes the proposal as an effort to reduce regulatory burdens and give programs greater flexibility while preserving statutory obligations.

Among the proposed transportation changes is eliminating the federal requirement for a bus monitor to be on board vehicles transporting Head Start children, leaving staffing decisions more dependent on local operating practices and applicable state or local requirements. The proposal is not a final rule.

For student transporters, those potential changes raise practical questions about how programs would establish and maintain consistent safety expectations for their youngest passengers. Bluth’s session will provide an opportunity to examine what the proposed shift could mean for Head Start transportation operations.

The TSD Conference takes place Nov. 4–10 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.

Attendees can save $100 on Main Conference registration by registering before the Early Bird discount expires Friday, Oct. 2. The Early Bird rate is $499, compared with the $599 standard rate. Main Conference registration includes breakout, general and keynote sessions, networking events and the trade show. Certain special training courses require additional registration or fees. Registration is available through the TSD Conference website.

Related: Proposed Head Start Regulation Changes Could Impact Transportation
Related: Crashes, Proposed Head Start Changes Underline Need for Proper Preschooler Securement
Related: New Date Set for NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD
Related: Closing TSD Keynote Bridges Gap Between Student Behavior, Positive Reinforcement

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A 7-year-old Cincinnati Public Schools student with special needs died while riding a school bus, and her family is seeking answers about what occurred during the approximately 90-minute trip home.

Ngone Talla, a Roselawn Condon School student, was nonverbal with developmental disabilities and rode the school bus in a wheelchair. Her father, Abdoula Talla, told local media that Ngone appeared healthy and happy when she went to school Wednesday morning.

Cincinnati Public Schools confirmed in a statement provided to School Transportation News that Ngone died later that day while on her school bus.

“Our hearts remain with her family and everyone who knew and loved her,” the district stated. “This is an unimaginable loss for them and a heartbreaking time for the entire CPS community, and especially those at her school.”

Ngone’s family said the bus arrived late at their Northside home at approximately 5 p.m. Abdoula said home surveillance video showed the bus remaining outside for 10 to 15 minutes before its wheelchair ramp was lowered.

Ngone’s 12-year-old sister, Marema Talla, reportedly went outside after her mother told her the school bus had arrived. She said a bus employee eventually invited family members on board, where they found Ngone motionless in her wheelchair.

Marema told local media that Ngone’s lips appeared dry, cut and bleeding, and that she could not detect a pulse or breathing. She said an bus attendant told her something had been coming from Ngone’s mouth before she became still.

Authorities have not confirmed that account or said when during the ride Ngone became unresponsive.

Abdoula said his wife and children called him after discovering that Ngone was not breathing. He said he called 911 while rushing home. Ngone was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The family is questioning why emergency responders were not called before the bus reached their home. Investigators have not said if district transportation staff or other students on school bus knew Ngone was in distress during the route or whether earlier intervention could have affected the outcome.

Substitute Monitor Working the Day of Fatality

Abdoula said the school bus route typically had a driver and an attendant responsible for monitoring students. He said the attendant working Wednesday was not Ngone’s regular attendant.

First Student, which operated the bus, stated in an email to STN that it is cooperating with local authorities and the school district.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of a student in Cincinnati and are fully cooperating with local authorities and the school district on conducting a thorough investigation,” the company stated.

First Student declined to answer questions about when employees noticed Ngone was unresponsive, whether they contacted emergency services and whether the attendant was a substitute. The company cited the active investigation.

The Cincinnati Police Department also confirmed in an email to STN that it is conducting a death investigation but declined to release additional information because the investigation remains ongoing.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has not publicly announced Ngone’s cause or manner of death.

Ngone’s family remembered her as funny, energetic and loving. Abdoula said he had communicated with her teacher earlier Wednesday and was told his daughter was having a good day.

“I just want to know the truth,” he said. “She’s a lovely baby, and I just want to know the truth.”

Cincinnati Public Schools said its Crisis Response Unit has been supporting students and employees at Roselawn Condon School and throughout the district.

Related: (STN Podcast E321) The Mission: Supporting Education & Independence for Students with Special Needs
Related: Gallery: Safe, Caring Transportation Promoted for Students With Special Needs
Related: Special Needs Roadeo Returns to TSD Conference with Expanded Training, Team Challenges
Related: Alternative School Transportation: Roadmap for Decision-Making For Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

The post Family Seeks Answers After 7-Year-Old Dies on Ohio School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

School startup across the U.S. comes with noteworthy snafus at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, tragic student fatalities, and speculation on electric bus mandates and funding.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy for software provider Everway, leverages her personal experience having a disability and her experience as the former assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services to speak on student behavior, absenteeism, IEPs, assistive technology, travel training, funding, U.S. Department of Education upheavals and more. She will present a keynote at November’s TSD Conference in Dallas-Frisco, Texas.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E323) Better Outcomes: Expert’s Insider Advice on Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

Districts transport students with disabilities every day under an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The cost recovery opportunities that supports those rides sit in several places at once: school-based Medicaid, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), state categorical aid and grant programs. Knowing which dollars apply, and holding the documentation to claim them, is where most operations lose ground.

In September 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News (STN) surveyed transportation professionals across the U.S. about how their districts fund and document specialized transportation.

Join Zonar and a panel of experts for an open conversation about where the money comes from, what districts document today and what gets missed along the way. Get direct insights from the perspective of consultants, district leaders and the staff who handle claiming.

What we’ll cover:

• Where cost recovery for transporting students with disabilities comes from, and which sources districts already use
• How school-based Medicaid reimbursement works for specialized transportation, from eligibility through the claim
• Why documentation is where most claims break down, and what a defensible ridership record looks like
• How one Florida district handles Medicaid claiming today, including the manual matching behind every submission
• Where the survey data shows the widest gap between cost recovery options that are available and funding claimed
• Practical next steps for transportation and special education leaders heading into the rest of the 2026-2027 school year
• How ridership tracking makes applying for cost recovery easier and more reliable.

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

Featured speakers:

Rachel Trindade
Chief Marketing Officer
Zonar

With more than 25 years in marketing and 15+ years in logistics, Rachel has helped companies drive significant growth faster than industry norms. At Zonar, she leads marketing and demand generation.

Before joining Zonar, Rachel served as CMO at FlavorCloud and Extensiv, and led global marketing at Teletrac Navman (Vontier) across four continents. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a leading Woman in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and named California’s Most Visionary Tech CMO by CEO Monthly.

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group

Tim Ammon has spent more than 25 years supporting transportation and fleet operations, working with more than 500 organizations across three countries. His work focuses on identifying opportunities to improve operational performance through process improvements, technology adoption, and personnel practices, consistently helping organizations bridge the gap between desired and actual performance.

Tim has also provided extensive professional development services in leadership and management, decision-making, organizational resilience, and cost and technical analysis. He holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and certifications in School Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Change Management.

Karen Thomas
Medicaid Coordinator
Leon County Schools

Karen Thomas handles Medicaid claiming for Leon County Schools in Tallahassee, Florida, where she manages the documentation behind every reimbursement the district submits for transporting students with disabilities. Her work covers pulling the daily records, matching each ride to the correct route and the correct student, then compiling the full file for submission.

She brings a ground-level view of what it takes to get funding for transporting students with disabilities, along with the tools and tricks that make her job easier.

The post (Free Webinar) The Cost Recovery Behind Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

Assigning dedicated adult support a student with disabilities on school buses can resolve immediate safety or behavioral concerns. But without a clearly defined purpose and regular reevaluation, that well-intentioned intervention can become a permanent arrangement that limits the student’s opportunities to grow, a leading child behavior expert says.

Board-certified behavior analyst and school district administrator Patrick Mulick will address that tension during an opening keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference and Trade Show. Mulick will present “Promoting Independence and Reducing the Reliance on 1:1 Adult Support” from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 to officially open TSD Conference, which is scheduled for Nov. 4-10 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center in Frisco, Texas.

During a recent interview for an upcoming episode of the School Transportation Nation podcast, Mulick explained that school districts frequently respond to challenging student behavior by assigning a one-on-one adult chaperone or aide. The response may provide immediate stability on the school bus, but he cautioned that it does not necessarily address the underlying reason for the behavior or build the skills the student needs to succeed more independently.

The longer a student relies on an adult to provide continuous directions, reminders and assistance, Mulick said, the greater the risk that the student begins to believe success is not possible without that person nearby. A constant adult presence can also affect relationships with peers and result in a student receiving far more correction and redirection than other riders.

Meanwhile, transportation departments must contend with the staffing, scheduling and financial implications of maintaining intensive support for an extended period. The keynote will explore how districts can protect safety while moving away from adult proximity as the default measure of student support. The session description promises transportation directors, supervisors and other district leaders a practical blueprint for creating sustainable systems that prioritize student agency.

Defining Adult Support

The behavior expert stressed that the objective is not to arbitrarily remove school bus aides or other necessary services. Some students require intensive adult assistance, and those supports must remain in place for as long as the individual needs exist.

Instead, he wants teams to become more precise about why a dedicated adult was assigned, what the adult is expected to accomplish and how the student’s continuing need will be reviewed. A support that was necessary in elementary school, or that has been in place on the bus for several years, should not automatically continue without asking whether the student’s abilities and circumstances have changed.
A central question, he said, is what skill the student has not yet developed that makes one-on-one support necessary. Once that skill is identified, transportation personnel can work with special education staff, behavior professionals and the student’s family to teach it rather than simply completing the task for the student.

That collaboration is especially important because transportation is too often informed of a staffing decision only after it has been made. Mulick said transportation professionals should be included earlier so they can explain the realities of the bus environment, help identify the support the student actually needs and understand the intended role of the assigned adult.

The conversation must then continue after the aide steps onto the bus. Without a specific plan, a one-on-one adult may naturally begin doing more for the student, making it increasingly difficult to determine what the student can do independently.

Mulick will demonstrate how teams can begin to “outsource” some of that adult support to the surrounding environment. Rather than verbally walking a student through each part of boarding, finding a seat and preparing for the ride, for example, staff might introduce a visual sequence and allow the student sufficient time and space to follow it.

Visual reminders can also prompt a student to use a familiar self-regulation strategy without an adult repeatedly telling the student what to do. As the student demonstrates greater competence, teams can gradually reduce the intensity of the prompt, the frequency of the reminder or the adult’s physical proximity.

Those changes may appear small, Mulick noted during the interview, but repeated opportunities to complete manageable tasks can build confidence and independence over time. The goal is not a rapid withdrawal of assistance. It is a purposeful progression from direct adult intervention to supports the student can recognize and use with less help.

Related: Legal Keynote to Examine Court Rulings Reshaping Special Needs Transportation
Related:School Bus Aides Fill Critical Safety Role for all Students
Related: New Jersey Bus Drivers and Aides Receive Special Needs Training

Mulick is currently a director of special education for Auburn School District in Washington state. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in special education and behavior analysis from Gonzaga University and previously taught students with disabilities from preschool through high school. He has since trained teachers, administrators, therapists, paraeducators and school transportation professionals across the country.

He is also a familiar presenter to STN conference audiences. His previous sessions have addressed student behavior, autism, positive reinforcement and the need to connect transportation more closely with the classroom and the rest of the educational program. His 2024 TSD keynote challenged attendees to reconsider the experiences of students with autism and provide more individualized, informed support on the school bus.

Early Bird registration for the TSD Conference is $499 through Oct. 2. Main conference registration provides access to workshops, breakout sessions, general and keynote sessions, networking events, the TSD Trade Show and reception, and the Safety and Technology Product Demonstration and Special Needs Ride & Drive. Visit the TSD Conference website to register and view the latest agenda.

Article written with the assistance of an AI transcript.

The post Behavior Expert to Help TSD Conference Attendees Rethink 1:1 Adult Support appeared first on School Transportation News.

Special education attorney Julie Weatherly, Esq., will bring four decades of legal experience to the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference and Trade Show this November, helping school transportation professionals understand how recent court decisions can affect every day operational choices and potentially expose districts and transportation providers to litigation.

Weatherly will present “The Wheels of Justice: Important Case Law Impacting Transportation of Students with Disabilities” Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 10:45 a.m. The keynote is part of the 2026 TSD Conference, scheduled for Nov. 4-10 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.

During a recent interview on the School Transportation Nation podcast, Weatherly reflected on beginning her special education law practice in 1986, when litigation surrounding the federal special education law was still developing. Since then, she has watched the field evolve through new regulations, federal guidance, civil-rights investigations and major U.S. Supreme Court decisions. That long view will frame a keynote focused less on legal theory and more on what court rulings mean for student transportation services during the individualized education program process.

Weatherly plans to use real-world scenarios and recent decisions to address four areas of growing concern: Personal injury-type monetary damages in special education cases, student discipline, transportation as a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and requests involving service animals. The goal is to help attendees recognize where legal vulnerabilities can arise while providing safe, equitable and individualized transportation.

One focal point will be the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2025 decision in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools. The unanimous Court rejected a heightened “bad faith or gross misjudgment” standard that had applied to certain education-related claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Instead, the Court held that students bringing those claims are subject to the same standards that apply in other disability-discrimination contexts. Weatherly indicated she will explain why the decision matters when parents seek compensatory damages over alleged failures involving transportation and other special education services.

The keynote will also examine cases addressing what transportation actually means as an IDEA-related service. Attendees can expect discussion of individualized transportation needs, questions surrounding door-to-door service and the point at which operational policies must yield to decisions made by an IEP team. Weatherly will also connect transportation-related discipline to the district’s obligation to maintain required services when a student’s behavior results in removal from the school bus.

Service-animal requests present another developing area. Weatherly plans to review how courts have responded to the accommodations requested by families and how far districts may be required to go. For transportation teams, those cases can raise practical questions about boarding, student and staff responsibilities, safety planning, supervision and the need for an individualized response rather than a blanket policy.

Her broader podcast conversation underscored the rapidly changing environment in which those decisions are being made. Weatherly discussed uncertainty surrounding federal special education and civil-rights enforcement while emphasizing that the legal rights of students with disabilities remain in place. She also cautioned districts against treating AI as a substitute for qualified legal advice or individualized educational decision-making, citing the potential for inaccurate information, confidentiality problems and generic, cut-and-paste planning that does not address a specific student’s needs.

Weatherly is the founder of Resolutions in Special Education, Inc., a Mobile, Alabama-based legal and consulting firm that assists education agencies with disputes arising under IDEA, Section 504, the ADA and related laws. A graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and a member of the Alabama and Georgia state bars, she provides legal and consulting services to school agencies nationwide and is a frequent presenter at state and national special education law conferences.

Main conference registration is currently available at the $499 Early Bird rate through Oct. 2, a savings of $100. Registration includes the main conference workshop, general and keynote sessions, networking events, the Ride & Drive + Technology Demo, and the trade show and reception. Visit TSDConference.com and clicked the Register Now button to reserve a seat.

Related: New Date Set for NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD
Related: What Impact Does the Supreme Court’s Endrew F. Decision Have on School Transportation?
Related: Legal Keynote Opens Attendees’ Eyes to Federal Special Needs Transportation Laws

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