How Travel Training Builds Everyday Independence

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Lily Fischer wakes up early in her Brooklyn residence, will get dressed, and makes breakfast earlier than heading out to catch the bus to an area bakery. A number of years in the past, she may need wanted her dad and mom’ assist to prepare, however now she’s up on time, totally ready, and on her method, confidently touring on her personal. 

Her new routine is the results of YAI’s journey coaching program, which teaches folks with mental and developmental disabilities (I/DD) the right way to safely navigate New York City’s complicated public transit system. 

“I feel brave and confident when I travel by myself,” mentioned Lily. “Taking the bus makes me happy and I love riding on it to get around.” 

For many individuals with I/DD, dependable and protected transportation stays one of many largest limitations to independence. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 40.2% of adults aged 18–64 with travel-limiting disabilities made zero journeys on the survey day, in contrast with 21.2% of adults with out disabilities. In addition, 14% of adults with disabilities lived in households and not using a car, making it more durable to entry work, courses, and social alternatives. Programs like YAI’s assist shut that hole, giving contributors abilities that may dramatically increase their worlds. 

“Travel training is life-changing,” mentioned Lisa-Dawn Kornegay, the Travel Training Program Supervisor at YAI, who labored carefully with Lily all through her coaching. “When people learn to travel on their own, they gain so much more than a bus route, they gain confidence, routine, and independence.” 

The program pairs every trainee with a YAI teacher who offers one-on-one steering, starting with security fundamentals: studying bus numbers, recognizing landmarks, managing fare funds, and dealing with surprising conditions. The coaching progressively strikes from full supervision to impartial journey, making certain contributors are really able to journey on their very own. 

Training usually takes 10 to fifteen days to finish, although progress is dependent upon every individual’s studying tempo. The program is competency-based, which means contributors should persistently reveal all required security and navigation abilities earlier than they’ll efficiently cross and journey independently. 

“We teach everything step by step,” Kornegay defined. “It starts with identifying the right bus stop and learning how to signal the driver. We also prepare them for the unexpected—like what to do if they miss their stop. They learn how to get off at the next one, safely cross the street, and retrace their route. It’s about problem-solving and staying calm.” 

For Lily and her household, the coaching was about greater than studying to get round; it was about getting ready for the long run. 

“We’re older parents,” mentioned Scott Fischer, Lily’s father. “We’re keenly aware we won’t be here forever. It’s really important that Lily be as independent as possible. We love living in New York, and she does too. If you live in New York, you’ve got to be able to use public transportation.” 

The household had first heard about YAI’s program by mates years in the past, however the pandemic delayed their plans. When in-person classes resumed, they have been desperate to enroll Lily. 

“She takes the bus to work twice a week now,” Fischer mentioned proudly. “She also goes across Brooklyn to visit her brother in Bed-Stuy. She’s so independent and she loves it. She’s calmer, more confident, and proud of herself.” 

For many contributors, that sense of pleasure comes not solely from mastering the transit system but in addition from the ripple results it creates in every day life. 

“Lily is waking up earlier on her own, making breakfast, keeping track of her time,” Fischer mentioned. “Before, we’d have to wake her up, but now she’s ready before we are. It’s made her more responsible and mature. She feels like she’s five or ten years older.” 

Kornegay has seen that sort of transformation typically. “Once people realize they can do it, that they can get where they need to go without help. It changes everything,” she mentioned. “It’s not just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about self-esteem.” 

The outcomes converse for themselves. Many graduates go on to journey independently to work, courses, or social occasions. Some even start serving to friends who’re simply beginning out, making a ripple impact of empowerment inside their communities. 

For Lily, the affect has been profound. Twice every week, she travels to a bakery in Park Slope, the place she takes baking and customer support courses designed for younger adults with cognitive disabilities. Eventually, this system hopes she’ll change into a model ambassador for the bakery. 

“It’s wonderful,” mentioned Fischer. “She talks about visiting different friends now because she can take the bus. She doesn’t need us to take her anymore. It’s completely opened her world.”