For students with disabilities, access to reliable, personalized transportation is essential to ensuring equal access to education – something that every student deserves, says Bridgette Brinkmann, chief people officer for alternative transportation provider EverDriven.
“It’s important that we continue to support students with disabilities – whether physical, emotional, or social – so they have the same opportunities to thrive as valued members of our communities,” says Brinkmann. “Ensuring consistent access to education for every student sets the stage for future success for students and for our communities.”
In this Q&A, Brinkmann discusses the transportation challenges of students with special needs, and how alternative transportation addresses those issues and sets these students up to thrive in and out of the classroom.
The following has been lightly edited for clarity and format.
SmartBrief: What are some challenges that students with disabilities face getting to school?
Bridgette Brinkmann: It often begins before they get into the vehicle. Physical barriers include not being able to stand outside at a bus stop independently, requiring assistance if they are in a wheelchair, or needing to be in a temperature-controlled environment. We recently transported a student who was sensitive to temperature. If the temperature spiked really hot or really cold, it could have triggered a seizure.
Additionally, students may struggle with challenges inside the vehicle. Anything from sensory and noise sensitivities to riding with a driver they don’t know can affect their experience getting to school. So, creating a safe, familiar environment in the vehicle is essential.
SB: How does EverDriven help school districts address these challenges?
BB: With personalization. We do a hand-to-hand drop-off using small-capacity vehicles designed for these students and their unique needs, such as wheelchair accessibility, sensory accommodations or a consistent driver to build trust and routine.
Also, with EverDriven, most students have the same driver every day. This is critical. Many students benefit from familiar routines and trusted relationships. Some of our drivers have been transporting the same student for years. They understand the needs of that specific individual and it’s a more customized experience. This helps parents and school staff to have peace of mind knowing that their students are having a safe, comfortable ride.
SB: How does alternative transportation for students with special needs affect society?
BB: Alternative transportation ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to the education they deserve. For some students, that means providing different support mechanisms or resources – like specialized vehicles or consistent, trusted drivers – to meet their individual needs for transportation.
These personalized solutions help students arrive at school safely with a readiness to learn, without compromising the efficiency of traditional transportation systems. Ultimately, this helps set up students to thrive.
SB: Beyond your transportation service, how else is EverDriven investing in students with special needs?
BB: At EverDriven, students with disabilities are at the heart of our mission. That’s why we’ve deepened our commitment by supporting Special Olympics Colorado to make a meaningful impact. In December, we sponsored a Giving Tuesday program where we donated one dollar for every mile driven in Colorado – raising more than $14,000. We are also partnering with them for our annual service day this spring, dedicating 720 volunteer hours to support these student-athletes. We’re not just driving miles – we’re driving change.
SB: As EverDriven’s Chief People Officer, you oversee the company’s compliance department. How does EverDriven meet each student’s unique safety needs and ensure compliance standards nationwide?
BB: At EverDriven, we are committed to the highest standard of excellence. We recognize that when a district partners with us, they’re trusting us with their most important responsibility: their students. That’s why we’ve built a robust compliance program designed to uphold the highest standards in every state and district we serve. We have experts who work closely with our Field Operations team to ensure we can operationalize all our compliance and safety standards within each local and state market. Our compliance team conducts audits with local districts or transportation professionals, and internal audits against our existing processes.
The EverDriven standard sets an industry-leading benchmark for student, driver and stakeholder safety. Our rigorous driver vetting process includes thorough background checks, as well as drug and alcohol testing. To further enhance safety, all drivers and service providers have access to our safety training, and all vehicles must pass a 50+ point inspection along with an independent third-party inspection.
SB: How do you see technology supporting accessible and inclusive transportation?
BB: Technology is an essential element for school districts seeking to provide more efficient and transparent transportation for every student. Solutions like in-ride cameras and parent-friendly apps like EverDriven VIP are becoming table stakes in the district’s transportation fleets. These tools not only provide more accessible, inclusive transportation for students with disabilities, they also ensure peace of mind for parents and stakeholders to know that their student is safe and secure on every ride.