With one in 68 children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the condition is evidently on the rise across the country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention, this current autism diagnosis rate represents a 30-percent increase since 2008. In order to raise ASD awareness and assistance, the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) and the Autism Society have partnered to provide school bus contractors the necessary training and information about the disorder.
Since school bus drivers can sometimes be the adult educational organization representatives that children see most consistently throughout the day, both first thing in the morning and at the end of the day, the training will share how to detect early signs of autism along with how to best communicate ASD concerns to parents and caregivers. Furthering safety training into this arena will also afford children a dependable transportation method to and from school.
Ronna Weber, executive director of the NSTA, said she is honored to partner with the Autism Society, seeing it as an opportunity to deliver outstanding resources to “our front line contracted transportation personnel.”
“Helping drivers have a better understanding of the needs of children with autism can only increase communication between the driver and student, and enhance school transportation safety for all children,” said Weber.
The collaboration was announced July 20 at the 2015 NSTA Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
