How should you secure a student who uses a wheelchair on a bus equipped with a lift?

• A. Use the lift to position the chair, secure with four-point tie-downs and a seat belt or harness if provided, and ensure the student is safely restrained.
• B. Tie the wheelchair to the seat with a single strap.
• C. Rely on the student holding onto handrails only.
• D. Remove the wheelchair before driving.

Answer: (A)

Securing a student in a wheelchair on a bus with a lift means first bringing the chair into the bus with the lift and then immobilizing it with four-point tie-downs attached to the floor anchors, plus a seat belt or harness if provided, to keep the student restrained during the trip. Engage the chair’s brakes and lock the wheels, position the chair in a designated securement area, and tighten all four tie-downs evenly so the chair can’t move, tip, or slide. Add the belt or harness to restrain the student as needed, ensuring it’s snug but comfortable. Always perform a final check that the chair cannot shift and that nothing protrudes into aisles.

Single-strap ties don’t provide full restraint and can slip; relying on the student to hold onto handrails isn’t a safe way to control movement; removing the wheelchair before driving removes the student from the appropriate seating and increases risk.