BOSTON – April is Autism Acceptance Month, and this year, the MBTA is taking part in the Autism Transit Project for the very first time.
As a part of the project, local children and young adults with autism will record 37 different public service announcements that will play over the trains’ speakers all month long.
The tween behind one of those new voices, Lilah McNitt, 12, recorded the announcements that will play every hour throughout the MBTA transit system on Tuesday.
The announcements will include tips on how to safely board trains and remember to be kind while riding the T.
McNitt’s mom, Genavieve Coyne, learned about the program through her school and knew her daughter would be perfect for the opportunity.
“Lilah is very brave,” Coyne said. “She does things way outside her comfort zone, so we knew this would be a great opportunity to share who she is and celebrate autism and acceptance, and so yeah, she nailed it.”
The family rode the T in from Natick and could barely hold in their excitement hearing her announcement.
McNitt says she practiced a lot, and even at school, which all paid off when she got to hear her very own recording inside the Park Street Station on Tuesday.
The T said the goal of the announcements is to raise awareness about autism and provide a platform for children to showcase their talents and make a positive impact on public transportation.
“It’s a wonderful program and it goes beyond just acceptance and understanding, but inclusion and just celebrating the diversity of what we all are,” Coyne said. “They are such an important part of our community because we think differently.”
The T will host a reception later in the week to thank everyone for participating in the program.
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By Danae Bucci,
WCVB.com | April 22, 2025
