NJ TRANSIT RECOGNIZES AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH
For Second Year, Neurodiverse Children Record Station Announcements while Partnership with Magnusmode is Expanded through Launch of Light Rail Travel Aid
April 2, 2024
NEWARK, NJ – NJ TRANSIT is once again recognizing Autism Acceptance Month by having neurodiverse children record announcements that will be played at train stations across the NJ TRANSIT system throughout the month of April, while also expanding the Magnusmode travel app – a digital life skills app for neurodiverse individuals – to include light rail customers, and wrapping a bus in messaging to promote acceptance.
"By embracing the unique perspectives of neurodiverse children in our station announcements and broadening access to tools like Magnusmode, NJ TRANSIT continues to foster a more inclusive transit system,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “This Autism Acceptance Month, we’re proud to showcase our efforts to make travel as accessible and welcoming as possible for everyone.”
“For the second year in a row now, NJ TRANSIT is participating along with BART, MARTA, WMATA, and the Maryland MTA in the Autism Transit Project. NJ TRANSIT holds a special place in the hearts of New Jersey children with autism who love trains and buses. Today, NJ TRANSIT will show these kids how much that bond means to them,” said Jonathan Trichter, Founder of special needs schools for children with autism and the creator of the Autism Transit Project. “These children learn how to connect with others through their love of transit. When language doesn’t come naturally, they grab onto the announcements they hear in the place they love and use that language to interact with their families and friends. For children on the spectrum, the service announcements you hear every day can be the first building blocks for communicating.”
“In 2022, we partnered with NJ TRANSIT to bring MagnusCards to life throughout the transit system. With the addition of more Card Decks with each year of partnership, in 2024 we are now able to assist autistic and neurodivergent individuals to navigate three important modes of travel in New Jersey: bus, train and light rail. We are extremely proud of this development,” said Magnusmode Founder and CEO Nadia Hamilton, “Together we are supporting independent and inclusive living! Our continued partnership expansion is a true testament to NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to ensuring accessible transit for people of all backgrounds and abilities.”
Happy Hour 4 Kids Station Announcements:
Sample announcements include:
"Hi, my name is ________ and as part of Autism Acceptance Month, I would like to welcome you aboard NJ TRANSIT" or "Please watch the gap while boarding the train."
For video and audio of the children recording the announcements, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3nElKwJYkI
MagnusCards App Expansion:
NJ TRANSIT is now launching “MagnusCards for Light Rail,” a travel aid that provides useful instructions for riding light rail in a flash card-style format, tailored to autistic and neurodiverse individuals. Previously, NJ TRANSIT released “MagnusCards for Bus” and “MagnusCards for Rail,” providing similar assistance for bus and rail customers.
The MagnusCards mobile app is available in Apple App Store & Google Play Store.
Accessibility Web Page:
NJ TRANSIT also has an accessibility-related website content and user experience, available at www.njtransit.com/accessibility. The webpage features an overview video about the many services and features of NJ TRANSIT that make it accessible to all individuals, as well as easy-to-use links to specific information and informational videos, which are captioned in six languages in addition to English. The videos, which were funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s Access and Mobility Partnership Grants program, cover several topics with information about vehicle and station accessibility, the Reduced Fare Program, community transportation services and Access Link paratransit service, including Access Link Online, where Access Link customers can manage their reservations and accounts.
Bus Wraps:
NJ TRANSIT has wrapped one bus in new Autism Acceptance Month graphics to help promote the message during the month of April. Be sure to be on the lookout for this bus on the roads of New Jersey!
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.