'How I Travel: Getting There Safely': A resource pack for use by support workers to enable individuals with learning disabilities to learn the skills required for independent travel on a bus in Edinburgh.

Abstract

Being able to travel independently by bus is a complex skill that many adults with learning disabilities struggle with; there are a variety of smaller skills that combine to make this possible. At present, there are very few travel training programmes that exist at a national level and there is little guidance for creating programmes. Adults living in the community also do not often have a professional engaged with them at all times, typically an occupational therapist will only become involved when there is a specific problem. Occupational therapy as a profession aims to enable people to participate in activities that are meaningful to them, as well as assisting them to find ways to do the things that they need to do. In learning disability services, occupational therapists focus on this as well as providing new opportunities for people that they may not have been aware of or able to do before. The project was completed in conjunction with a local service that support people with learning disabilities in their own homes; a group of service users were involved in the project to give expert advice and provide feedback on the resources that were created. The programme created was broken down into five sections: 'My Local Area', 'Road Safety', 'Reading Timetables', 'Confidence When Travelling' and 'Getting The Bus'. Activities were designed to enable the learning of skills in a practical manner and to gradually give people the confidence to travel by bus alone.