April is Autism Acceptance Month, and for the second year in a row, Metro has partnered with the Autism Transit Project to highlight the special bond children with autism often have with mass transit systems. In acknowledgment of that connection, Metro invited 25 children with autism to record boarding and safety announcements that will be played throughout the Metrorail system the entire month of April.
Metro will honor and acknowledge each participant at the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station on Wednesday, April 10. A media advisory with additional details about the event will be sent in the coming days.
This is Metro’s second time participating in the project and joins fellow transit agencies – Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) – in supporting this meaningful cause.
“We recognize the importance of supporting autism acceptance and are proud to be part of this event,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Our goal is to foster a more inclusive society and celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of individuals with autism in our community.”
This year’s participants range in age from 5 to 19 years old and represent communities throughout the region. The pre-recorded announcements will cover a variety of pertinent information, including reminders to hold children by the hand on escalators and minding the gap when entering and exiting trains.
Play to listen to the pre-recorded messages:
About the Autism Transit Project: Jonathan Trichter spent the first 30 years of his career in communications, investment banking, corporate restructuring, and venture capital. After his personal life was touched by autism, he turned his full attention to providing the best therapies and services available to autistic children. He owns and operates several special needs schools and other programs for kids with neurological differences in New York, Connecticut, and the Pacific Northwest, including The Foundry Learning Center and Hubbard Day School.
Courtesy WMATA
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