Here is a data sheet to teach a client to tolerate either the city bus or a school bus.

The second program (Tolerates Van Rides) is a program that I created for one of my clients at a group home who refused to get in the van. This posed a health risk as he was missing medical appointments.

Attempt to pair the bus with preferred things:

Student can wear headphone with preferred music playing as soon as he steps onto the bus

Pack a bag of a few preferred items that the student can play with (or just hold) on the bus

If snacks are allowed on the bus, pack a bag of preferred snacks for the bus ride

Have a preferred item/activity waiting at the destination

Use a first/then schedule

First bus ride, Then ______ (at destination) – If student understands, you could do first/next/then – First get on the bus, Next play with preferred items and listen to music on the bus, Then ____ (at destination)

If it is a city bus, always go to a preferred destination until the client is used to the bus

The student should always have choice – Get on the bus and great things happen, or stay behind, but other programming demands happen

If student gets agitated, prompt an FCT – “Try again later”

(If he protests, give him his way so that you don’t become the victim of aggression – Try to at least prompt some appropriate and functional language)

When he verbalizes (or exchanges a PCS) for “Try again later,” set visual timer for 5 minutes