Belgian Parents Organize Transport for Children with Autism

Parents in Limburg, Belgium, are organizing their own transportation for their children in special education after concerns about lengthy school bus rides. Thierry Vanhay and his wife Elke, from Tongeren-Borgloon, began driving their 8-year-old son, who has autism spectrum disorder, to school because the standard bus route would take 1.5 to 2 hours, a journey they can complete in 25 minutes while picking up other children.

The initiative started after Vanhay connected with other parents online who faced similar long commutes for their children. Currently, one van driven by a parent will transport eight children to school in Bilzen-Hoeselt, with costs shared among the families.

This parent-led solution arises from longstanding issues with transportation for students in special education in Flanders, including budget cuts and a planned regional overhaul of the system set for 2028-2029. Parents fear the upcoming changes won’t address the immediate needs of their children, who often struggle with long bus rides due to sensory sensitivities.