Do teachers receive any training to drive the large vans?
Vocational Services Director Michelle Klein serves in the role of van training specialist. All new employees who will be driving vans receive a two-part training: a one-hour lecture based on insurance company driver training, and (commentary driving.) During commentary driving, a trained driver accompanies the trainee as the trainee drives. The trainee describes everything she/he is seeing and doing as driving and the trainer coaches and evaluates. These sessions occur before teachers drive with students. This program, and data on its effectiveness, was the subject of a staff training presentation at the Association of Behavior Analysis conference several years ago.
