At Talkback we provide Independent Travel Training as part of our Personal Development and Skills programme. This training is designed to enable autistic people and those with a learning disability build confidence in managing their own lives.

Rohan’s travel training session took him from Amersham College to Berkhamsted Castle, which involved catching a 1b bus to Chesham and then the 354 to Berkhamsted.

Rohan used a mixture of google maps and the bus timetables to check his journey along the way. Rohan did all of this himself with some minor prompt about the time we needed to leave to return to college.

An area Rohan needed help with was understanding that we needed to cross the road at Chesham, to ensure we got the bus going the right direction back to college.

Rohan very much enjoyed spending time in the sunshine at the castle grounds. We had lunch on a bench within the grounds and spent some time exploring the ruins of the castle. After this we walked toward the high street. We practiced Rohan’s social skills by talking to others in a coffee shop.

Independent travel can open up a world of social, leisure and employment opportunities. Our training covers personal and road safety and how to plan a journey by bus or train. We also provide support on how to apply for a bus pass and to read a timetable. Teach how to tell the time, calculate costs and practice money skills.  As well as explaining how to use a travel app.

Our members are supported at each stage, no-one is left to do it alone until they are ready.

You can find out more here