Wiltshire Council expands travel training for students with disabilities

Wiltshire Council in England expanded its travel training programme to help teenagers with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) use public transport independently.

The council made this move after voting to reduce spending on private taxi transfers for students aged 16 to 19. The council expects the reduction in taxi costs to save £400,000 annually. The training programme provides one-to-one support for students with autism, Asperger's, or learning and sensory disabilities.

Trainers accompany the teenagers on buses to and from their colleges until the students feel confident enough to travel alone. For some participants, trainers meet them at their front doors to teach them how to navigate to a bus stop, read timetables, purchase tickets, and ask for help if problems arise. Zoe Rankin, who leads the Intensive Travel Training programme, says the initiative helps students gain independence that parental support alone might not provide.

Since the programme expanded in September, 18 teenagers have completed the training, and 21 more are scheduled to join. While some parents expressed concern over the reduction in subsidised transport, programme manager Marnie Kemp says the training helps vulnerable students overcome anxiety regarding crowds and schedules.