What happens when a student with disabilities leaves the support system – difficult though it may be to navigate – of NYC Public Schools? How do families and students begin to understand what options are available? And how can you support your student in building the crucial self-advocacy skills they’ll need? Join us as we answer all of these questions, and more, in today's episode.

For support with any education-related questions, call AFC’s Education Helpline and (866) 427-6033 or send us a message online: advocatesforchildren.org/contact

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Links and resources we mentioned in this episode:

Register for the Transition Summit on 11/7: https://advocatesforchildren.org/2026-transition-summit/

AFC's Transition Services & College Planning Guide: https://advocatesforchildren.org/resource/transition-guide/

AFC's Applying for OPWDD Fact Sheet: https://advocatesforchildren.org/resource/applying-for-opwdd/

AFC's Vocational and Transition Services Tip Sheet: https://advocatesforchildren.org/resource/preparing-for-life-after-high-school-vocational-and-transition-services/

NYCPS' Transition and College Access Centers: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/special-education/help/contacts-and-resources#:~:text=transition%20and%20college%20access%20centers

For our first episode, we talked about one of the thorniest start-of-the-school-year issues: school busing. Every year, AFC hears from families who were never assigned a bus route, for whom the bus doesn't show up on time, or whose student is spending hours longer on the bus than they should. So, we asked AFC advocates: what should families know when school transportation isn't working, and what can we do to fix it?

We talk to AFC advocate Anna Brehm about some of the most common school transportation issues, and tips you can take to troubleshoot any busing issues you’re experiencing. Then, we speak with AFC policy director Randi Levnie to learn more about the system-wide changes AFC is pushing for to overhaul New York City’s dysfunctional school busing system.

For support with busing issues and any other education-related questions, call AFC’s Education Helpline and (866) 427-6033 or send us a message online: advocatesforchildren.org/contact

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Links and resources we mentioned in this episode:

Register for AFC’s 9/23 Busing webinar (English): https://advocatesforchildren.org/events/busing-issues-101-troubleshooting-nyc-school-transportation-issues-2/

Register for AFC’s 9/24 Busing webinar (Spanish): https://advocatesforchildren.org/events/nyc-transporte-escolar-101-resolviendo-problemas-con-el-transporte-escolar-3/

AFC’s Resolving Transportation Issues Tip Sheet: https://advocatesforchildren.org/resource/resolving-transportation-issues/

Access your child’s New York City Schools (NYCSA) account: https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/

Find your District Transportation Liaison: https://infohub.nyced.org/in-our-schools/operations/transportation-resources-for-schools/transportation-liaisons

List of bus company contact information: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/transportation/contact-information

Download the NYC School Bus App: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/transportation/nyc-school-bus-app

Contact the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT): (718) 392-8855

Submit a transportation complaint through the NYC Support Hub: https://supporthub.schools.nyc/#family-login

Take action: Interested in joining AFC and our partners to fight for better school bus service? Tell us more! https://bit.ly/BetterBusingNow