The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) invited 26 people with autism to record boarding and safety announcements that will play throughout the transit system during April to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month.
WMATA will join other transit agencies across the United States in supporting the Autism Transit Project.
“Metro is proud to support the Autism Transit Project and appreciates the young transit enthusiasts for using their voices and unique gifts to spread awareness about autism to our Metro customers,” Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke said in a press release.
According to the founder of the Autism Transit Project, Jonathan Trichter, the Metro is a special place for many local autistic children.
“For some of these kids who gravitate towards the subway system, the first full sentence they may utter is a service announcement they hear on platform loudspeakers,” Trichter said in a press release.
The project is a way for Metro to acknowledge the special relationship they share with the community, according to Trichter.
“Frontline workers experience this special relationship every day. This is an opportunity for Metro to celebrate that and raise awareness around individuals who are different but similar…and no less,” Trichter said in a press release. “I hope that next year for Autism Awareness Month transit systems across the world hear about this project and do something like it in their cities.”
WMATA will honor those who participated at the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station on Thursday, April 20 at 4:15 p.m.
‘Welcome Aboard’: Metro Supports Autism Acceptance Month with ‘Special’ In-Stations Announcements Featuring Local Enthusiast with Autism. Learn more: https://t.co/Z0hNwFJw4E #wmata pic.twitter.com/ZAtb1DGnex
— Metro Forward (@wmata) April 4, 2023
