Enriched Independent Travel Training (EITT) Case Study – Miya’s Journey to Independent Travel
Starting out
My name is Miya and I am 22. I have Learning Difficulties and find reading and writing really tricky. Sometimes my self-management used to be not good. I needed a minute to calm down if I wasn’t feeling myself.
I used to get a taxi or a minibus with other learners to get to school. There were lots of people getting picked up and dropped off. I started Travel Training on my first day at Transition2 College to practice getting the bus there and other places.
Beginning My Journey
At the start, Amie (my Travel Trainer) supported me on the bus, telling me when I needed to leave the house for college and work and which buses I needed to catch.
I got on the bus with my Gold Card so I didn’t need to pay. I needed to take my phone with me in case I needed to ring Amie. I took my belongings with me and learned to keep them next to me on the bus so they stay safe.
Overcoming challenges
I used to find it tricky when I was tired on the bus, when it was hot. Sometimes I would fall asleep. Oh no! It was embarrassing but now I learned to have water with me so I stay awake. We all laugh about it now!
I find numbers hard so I have alarms on my phone to tell me when I need to leave the house. I worked really hard to learn how to do it and now I get everywhere ding on time.
Achieving independence
When I finished Training I got a certificate and got a Free Travel Pass. It helped me to get out to different places, to town, to exercise and to work. Now I get two buses to work and don’t need help from my Mum or my teachers to get about.
It has made me feel happy because I can do things on my own. It has changed my life!
Life now
I don’t go to school or college now. I’m a volunteer at different jobs and meet together with my friends in town. I still get there on the bus. We all did our Travel Training so we all do it on our own.
My Mum is really proud of me and knows that I can stay safe.
Travel Training is good for everyone. They can learn how to do it too. When they get to my stage they can be happy and confident about themselves like me.
