Linda Walder Fiddle was inspired by adult living with Autism to create a portable travel troubleshooting guide! The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is known as the national autism organization that develops, advocates for and funds innovative initiatives benefitting adults on the spectrum and recently partnered with Easter Seals Project Action, and Feeley Consulting to develop and create the publication of the GET Going Guide, (Guiding Everyday Travel), a free pocket-sized "travel trouble-shooting guide" for individuals living with Autism and other challenges. "The 'GET Going project' was inspired by an adult who lives with Autism and who travels independently on buses and trains but finds it difficult to remember what to do when unexpected things happen in the course of travel," says Linda Walder Fiddle, Founder and Executive Director of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJF). Walder Fiddle spearheaded the project, harnessing the accessible transportation expertise of Easter Seals Project Action, as well as Cecilia Feeley who runs a transportation consulting firm. Together they developed the user friendly GET Going! Guide for travelers living with Autism. The purpose of the GET Going Guide is to provide an easy-to-use, portable tool for travelers who may become flustered or forget the travel training they received when something out of the ordinary occurs. It covers such topics as: --What if you lose your fare? --What if you miss your stop? --What if you get lost? Easter Seals Transportation Group produces practical resources that people with disabilities can use to identify, plan for, and access available transportation options in their communities. The GET Going! Guide was compiled from the concerns of adults and adolescents on the Autism spectrum who currently use, or would like to use, their local public bus, train or subway. Dr. Mary Leary, who leads Easter Seals' Project Action states, "Easter Seals is pleased to have added our knowledge of the needs of people with autism and our expertise on accessible transportation to that of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation to produce this new pocket guide, which will provide support to people with autism as they independently use public transportation to get to the places they want to go." According to transportation expert Cecilia Feeley,"The ability to travel independently allows one to take control of their lives and their choices. Those who can't or don't drive can take public transit to meet their daily needs and maintain a high quality of life. However, using the local bus or train can be overwhelming, especially when something goes wrong. The GET Going Guide allows individuals to get quick answers to common problems that happen when riding the bus or train." The GET Going Guide is now available nationally. Developed collaboratively, the process involved public transit service providers and operators, travel trainers, transit researchers and disability experts. The goal is to provide simple solutions to problems and avoid potential crisis situations while getting people back on their route and to their destinations safely. To download or order a GET Going Guide, go The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation at www.djfiddlefoundation.org OR Easter Seals Project Action at www.projectaction.org
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