Transportation for Students with Disabilities in Philadelphia

The Law Center recently signed on to a letter to help advocate for the transportation needs of students with disabilities in Philadelphia.

As a member of the Philadelphia Coalition of Special Education Advocates, we felt obliged to alert the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education that we felt children’s transportation difficulties had only grown in the past two years.  As stated in the letter, “the net result…has been that children don’t get to school on time and therefore cannot access the full benefit of their education program.”

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), transportation is a related service that the District of Philadelphia must provide when it is agreed upon in a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  It is unacceptable for families to struggle wondering when and how their child will get to school.  Even when children have transportation their drivers and aids continue to need education in regard to the children’s needs. In addition, parents “have no mechanism to communicate directly with the District about transportation” and voice their many concerns.  We hope the Bureau uses this letter as a call to action to help implement some much needed change.

Click here to read the full letter written by the Philadelphia Coalition of Special Education Advocates.