Talking about people and I with disabilities (special needs) traveling independently
Channel: Special need Life with Devon Ray Hillary
Date: 2022-07-09

In this video, I talk about people and I with disabilities traveling independently, especially on public transportation. I also mention safety and danger concerns, common negative assumptions and other necessary matters that goes on with me and people with disabilities traveling independently, nowadays.

Nowadays, most people with disabilities travel by public transportation, especially myself. It is true.  
Most people in the world with disabilities are learning how to take public transportation independently by being travel trained. In an article entitled A Guide to Travel Training by an organization called Milestones, travel training programs short-term, intensive, individualized courses of instruction designed to promote the independent travel of older adults and people with disabilities. Additionally, a government website called Croydon, a government in the United Kingdom defined the meaning of independent travel training: Independent travel is a crucial life skill that helps give young people the freedom to fulfill their potential and life, and give young people, adults with special educational needs and disabilities the skills and confidence they need to travel independently to schools, colleges, and community activities. 
The individualized travel training program includes the following:      

1. one-to-one personalized travel trainer support.      
2. Increased self-confidence and esteem.     
3. Journey planning.     
4. Road and personal safety skills.      
5. Time management.     
6. Emergency strategies.      
And,      
7. Stranger awareness.      

The United Kingdom also has another definition of travel training from an article entitled Travel Training. It said, “Travel Training develops an important skill for life as it helps to give a young person the freedom to fulfill their potential. Traveling independent opens up social, educational, and employment opportunities.”     
Travel Training programs help people with disabilities how to take public transportation; this task is often done and supervised by travel trainers. Special-needs people could search for travel training program locations in neighborhoods wherever they live. Better yet, people may also be travel trained by their parents or other members of their families to know how to use public transportation for traveling. Either of these two options, if people with disabilities feel sure, brave, comfortable, and confident enough of themselves or from their travel trainers, they could begin to travel by public transportation independently and without any continuing supervision. For example, most people with disabilities can travel independently by public commute to school or any other destination and back home. Other people with disabilities may take longer to acquire these skills or need support to use them effectively, but that does not mean they should avoid learning these skills or drop the idea of having the opportunity to try.     
Transportation includes riding on buses, subways, commuter railroads, light rail, taxicabs, ferryboats, and planes (especially when traveling overseas to different continents and countries). It is a higher level to become independent.
any teenager and grown-up with disabilities can learn how to travel independently to cope, benefit, and experience the reality of everyday independence. Additionally, despite the downsides, weaknesses, and negatives of traveling, learning how to travel independently is a great way for all other people with disabilities to learn, live, and experience becoming independent. Independent traveling helps me and people with disabilities open up opportunities for social life, education, and employment.    

Thank you for watching this video, especially for those with special-need disabilities!

- Devon Ray Hillary