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Three years ago, in 2022, we had the idea to organize a project for Autism Acceptance Month with the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority where children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) got to make public service announcements throughout the subway system. Many children with ASD exhibit perseverative behaviors around trains. It is not at all unusual for the first full sentences an autistic child utters to be a train announcement.
Our goal is to put the resources we raise to work on this project as well as workforce partnerships with transit agencies to connect young adults with ASD who love transit with job opportunities at transportation authorities that might provide them genuine careers and a pathway to financial independence—a huge challenge for people with neurological differences.
The Autism Transit Project is a non-profit 501c3 whose mission it is to spread acceptance and awareness that people with autism are worthy and valuable parts of their societies—different perhaps, but no less.
The project relies on its ability to channel the connection many with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have to mass transit systems in a positive way. It started with an idea when its founder, Jonathan Trichter, launched a widely praised initiative that allows autistic children who love trains to record subway service announcements that are then broadcast publicly throughout their local transit systems in conjunction with Autism Acceptance Months. In 2023, over 100 children and 5 major transit agencies across the country participated. This year, in 2024, that number is up to 7 transit agencies with even more kiddos!
