More Than a Bus. A Pathway to Belonging.
In June 2026, Circle of Friends received incredible news. The Lane Transit District Board of Directors unanimously approved Section 5310 funding for our very first accessible school bus.
While this investment provides transportation, what it truly creates is opportunity.
For many youth with disabilities, transportation is one of the greatest barriers to participating fully in school and community life. An accessible bus means students can visit libraries and museums, volunteer in their community, develop job skills, explore local parks and cultural events, and experience the same opportunities for learning, friendship, and belonging that every child deserves.
This milestone was made possible by families who courageously shared their stories, community members who stood alongside them, and leaders who recognized that access should never depend on transportation.
Our Board Chair, Courtney Leonard, spoke on behalf of those families during the public meeting, capturing why this moment means so much to our community.
Watch Courtney’s remarks to hear why the Belonging Bus is about so much more than getting from one place to another. It’s about opening doors, creating connections, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to belong.
“[At Circle of Friends] not only are our children just blossoming, the people that work in the school are, too,” says parent Hannah Layman. “It’s just admirable that you can have a community in a school that supports the children but also their aides in the staff.”
Help Bring the Belonging Bus Home
Thanks to the generosity of the Lane Transit District and the federal Section 5310 program, Circle of Friends has been awarded funding to purchase our first accessible school bus. To complete the purchase, we must raise the required local match of $31,828.
This is where our community comes in.
Every gift helps move us closer to the day our students board a bus designed with their needs in mind and head out into the community to learn, explore, volunteer, build friendships, and discover new opportunities.
The Belonging Bus will feature 10 wheelchair positions, an extraordinary level of accessibility that will allow more students with complex support needs to participate in community-based learning than ever before. Those 10 spaces represent far more than seats. They represent access, independence, dignity, and belonging.
Want to make an even bigger impact?
Invite 10 friends to give $10.
Together, those small gifts can create something transformational, just as the 10 accessible spaces on our bus will create new possibilities for the students who ride it.
Yesterday, our families helped secure the funding.
Today, we’re asking our community to help bring the Belonging Bus home.
Your gift is more than a donation. It’s an investment in a future where every child has the opportunity to experience their community, build confidence, and know they belong.
Will you help put the wheels in motion?
