Virtual Public Transport for Autism: Independent Travel and Personal Growth

How can we help young people with autism become more independent and discover more of the world? Behavioral expert Joke de Haan shares her insights on using Virtual Public Transport to teach young people with autism how to travel by public transport. This innovative tool offers more than just getting from A to B—it encourages personal growth and independence.

Joke de Haan, assistant principal of a special education school, explains: "During my studies, I discovered that traveling has a huge impact on the executive functions of young people with autism. These functions are essential for planning, organizing, and problem-solving skills."

"By teaching young people with autism to travel by public transport, we activate and develop their executive functions," Joke continues. "This has benefits in various areas of life, such as charging a public transport pass or dealing with unexpected changes in timetables."

Virtual Public Transport offers a safe, virtual environment where young people with autism can practice traveling. Joke explains: "In Virtual Public Transport, they learn to deal with challenges like delayed trains or finding alternative routes. This increases their self-confidence and problem-solving skills."

"If you want to give young people with autism the world, you have to teach them to travel," Joke emphasizes. She shares the success story of Kees, a young man with autism who, thanks to travel training, now lives and works independently.

Virtual Public Transport makes it possible to support larger groups of young people with autism in developing their travel skills and executive functions.

The skills young people with autism learn through virtual public transport extend beyond just traveling. Joke sees potential for its application in education: "Virtual public transport can make a valuable contribution to citizenship lessons. After all, being able to travel independently is a right of every citizen and contributes to personal freedom."

Interested in using Virtual Public Transport for young people with autism?