Transportation
A-FITS understands that transportation can be an important part of making a specialized school placement work for a family.
Home-to-School Transportation
A-FITS transportation is a home-to-school service.
Students are picked up at their approved home address and transported to the Glendale Campus. At the end of the school day, students are transported back to their approved home address.
A-FITS does not use neighborhood bus stops or centralized pickup locations.
Glendale Transportation
Transportation is provided using A-FITS passenger vans, not traditional school buses.
Routes are developed around the home addresses of the students currently participating in transportation.
Because each van has limited seating and routes must remain manageable for students and staff, transportation availability is limited.
Current Status: Waitlist
Glendale transportation routes are currently full.
Families who need transportation may request to be added to the transportation waitlist.
Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee that transportation will become available.
Openings depend on available seating, existing student home locations, route capacity, student withdrawals, changes in current transportation needs, staffing, vehicle availability, route length and travel time, and whether a new home address can reasonably be incorporated into an existing route.
Transportation Is Not Guaranteed With Enrollment
Admission to A-FITS and transportation availability are separate.
A student may be accepted and enrolled at the Glendale Campus even when a transportation seat is unavailable.
Families should have an alternative transportation plan if transportation is not immediately available.
Enrollment at A-FITS does not guarantee transportation.
Individualized Transportation Support
Students with autism may have very different needs while riding in a vehicle.
When transportation is available, A-FITS considers the individual student's needs as part of route planning.
Depending on the student and available resources, considerations may include seating placement, proximity to other students, communication needs, sensory needs, behavioral supports, safety needs, transition into and out of the vehicle, and support staff when appropriate and available.
Transportation accommodations are considered individually and must be safely and reasonably supported within the route.
Passenger Vans
A-FITS uses passenger vans for student transportation.
Our smaller transportation model allows us to provide home pickup and drop-off while maintaining a more individualized environment than a traditional school-bus system.
Students are expected to follow transportation safety expectations while riding in an A-FITS vehicle.
Transportation Safety
Student safety is the priority on every route.
A-FITS transportation procedures address safe driving, student supervision, seatbelt use, approved home pickup, approved home drop-off, student release, communication with the campus, emergency procedures, and behavior or safety concerns during transportation.
Families are responsible for ensuring students are ready at their scheduled pickup time and that an authorized adult is available at home when required for drop-off.
Transportation & Student Behavior
Some students may require additional support to ride safely.
If transportation-related behavior creates a significant safety concern for the student, other passengers, staff, or driver, the school may work with the family and student team to identify appropriate supports.
That may include seating changes, behavioral strategies, visual supports, communication supports, additional preparation, or other individualized strategies.
Continued transportation depends on whether the student can be safely transported within the resources available.
Address Changes
Because routes are built around student home addresses, a change of residence may affect transportation availability.
A new address may not automatically fit within the student's existing route.
Families should notify A-FITS as early as possible if their home address changes so transportation availability can be reviewed.
Scottsdale / PV Campus
Transportation is not currently offered through the Scottsdale/PV Campus.
Families enrolling at Scottsdale/PV are responsible for transportation to and from school.
Mesa Campus
Transportation is not currently offered through the Mesa Campus.
Families enrolling at Mesa are responsible for transportation to and from school.
Glendale Transportation Waitlist
Families interested in transportation should discuss the need with the Glendale Campus.
A-FITS can document the family's home address and transportation request and place the student on the current waitlist.
If an appropriate opening becomes available, the school can determine whether the student's home address can reasonably be incorporated into an available route.
Scottsdale/PV and Mesa: Transportation is not currently offered.
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