Circle of Friends Secures Federal Funding for Accessible School Bus to Serve Students With Disabilities

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — Circle of Friends School has received federal transportation funding through Lane Transit District (LTD) that will help the organization purchase a fully accessible school bus, expanding opportunities for students with significant disabilities to participate in educational and community activities across Lane County.

The LTD Board of Directors unanimously approved the award following recommendations from the agency’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) Advisory Committee. The grant provides $179,209 in federal Section 5310 funding toward the purchase of a specialized vehicle designed to meet the needs of students with complex mobility challenges.

Circle of Friends Executive Director Michael Aguilar said the project represents more than a new bus.

“This is about access, independence, and belonging,” Aguilar said. “Our students deserve the same opportunities as any other child to learn in their community, visit libraries and museums, volunteer, explore future career interests, and participate in the world around them. For many of our students, transportation has been one of the greatest barriers to those experiences. This investment helps remove that barrier.”

The future vehicle, dubbed the “Belonging Bus,” is expected to accommodate up to 10 wheelchair positions, allowing students with significant mobility needs to travel safely and comfortably together.

Before the board’s vote, Circle of Friends Board Chair Courtney Leonard shared her perspective as the stepparent of a child who uses a wheelchair.

“As the stepparent of a daughter who uses a wheelchair, I know firsthand that transportation is never as simple as getting in a car and going,” Leonard said. “For many families, transportation becomes the factor that determines whether participation in school and community enrichment is possible at all.”

Leonard emphasized that learning extends beyond the classroom and that access to community experiences helps students develop communication skills, confidence, independence, and relationships.

“For many of our students, transportation is not just about mobility,” Leonard said. “It is about belonging.”

Families attended the LTD Board meeting to advocate for the project and highlight the importance of accessible transportation for children with disabilities.

Based in Cottage Grove, Circle of Friends serves students with complex physical, medical, communication, and educational support needs. The school provides individualized instruction, nursing oversight, therapy collaboration, and community-based learning opportunities aimed at helping students build meaningful lives within their communities.

Although the federal grant covers most of the cost, Section 5310 funding requires a local match. Circle of Friends must raise approximately $31,828 to complete the purchase and has launched a fundraising campaign to secure the remaining funds.

“This accomplishment belongs to our families, our staff, our Board of Directors, and the broader community that continues to believe in a future where disability is not overlooked but embraced,” Aguilar said. “The Belonging Bus will help our students access experiences that many people take for granted, and we cannot wait to see where it takes them.”

Circle of Friends’ mission is to expand equitable access to education, mental health services, community, and opportunities for youth with disabilities and their families. The organization is based in Cottage Grove and is working to expand services throughout Lane County under its guiding principle that “Every Person Has Value.”