More than accessibility:Freedom and dignity for riders with autism
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a month to celebrate and understand the experiences of autistic individuals. Many UZURV riders with autism rely on our services to get to work, appointments, and social gatherings — all things that are vital for living a fulfilling life.
As a part of Autism Acceptance Month, we want to provide drivers on the UZURV platform with information about the autism experience and the importance of providing service with dignity and respect.
What is autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or autism is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that impacts a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and ability to regulate emotions and behaviors.
People with autism often engage in repetitive behaviors and specific routines, so change and new experiences can sometimes be challenging. Autism can also make it difficult to process the world because of an increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, scents, and other sensory stimuli.
Like all disabilities, every experience with autism is different. People with autism could be nonverbal, use different speech patterns, or have no trouble speaking at all. Individuals on one end of the autism spectrum may need a lot of support in their everyday lives. Those on the other end of the spectrum may live independently with little outside support.
One thing, though, is true for everyone — all autistic individuals deserve to be understood, accepted, and treated with respect.
“Treat people how they want to be treated.”
Like UZURV, SOAR365 (based in Richmond, VA) provides support for people with disabilities so that they can live healthier, more vibrant lives as members of their community. We spoke to Christine Holland, Director of Training and Development, about what goes into ensuring that people with autism and other disabilities receive respectful care and support.
“We always start at a base level of person-centeredness, which means getting to know people and meeting people where they are,” Holland says. “Instead of the ‘golden rule’ — treat others how you would want to be treated — we follow the ‘platinum rule’ of treating people how they want to be treated.”
From day support and respite programs, to a summer camp for both children and adults, core values of respect and dignity are at the center of everything SOAR365 does. These programs give people with disabilities the opportunity to socialize, learn new skills, volunteer, and share other life experiences that sometimes require additional flexibility to fit their needs.
People with autism, for instance, are significantly underemployed when oftentimes all they need for success are a few accommodations and a workplace that understands they may behave differently than other employees.
Through SOAR365’s Supported Employment program and Business Solution department, autistic adults can find work where they will receive proper accommodations and be met with understanding. These individuals gain valuable professional experience and receive employee benefits, sometimes for the first time as an adult.
Holland says, “It’s a steady job and allows them to build off of it. At some point, they may decide to move on. We want to see folks go off on their own and use the skills they practiced with us for other opportunities.”
Impact that goes beyond the rider
UZURV is grateful for our partnerships with transit agencies that allow us to work together on increasing the positive impact of accessible services. In Portland, OR, Eileen Collins Turvey, the Director of Accessible Transportation Programs at TriMet, finds motivation for this work from personal experience.
Turvey shared her perspective on the Transit Unplugged Podcast last year at the American Public Transportation Association’s TRANSform conference:
“As the mom of a child on the autism spectrum, my son being able to independently ride to the places he wants to go and have a free, dignified, independent life matters to me. And I know that if that matters to me, that matters to the community.”
Turvey knows that accessible transportation is a vital resource for more than just riders too. She sees how accessibility has a ripple effect on the entire community. It gives families peace of mind to know that their loved one with a disability will get picked up on time and safely taken to day support programs, social activities, and jobs. It gives families the freedom to go to work, appointments, and live their own lives, a freedom Turvey wants for her son.
“I want to build a system that I would feel good putting my son or my mom on,” Turvey said on a 2024 episode of the Transit Unplugged Podcast. “I want to know they are safe, respected, and receiving dignified, equitable, and inclusive service.”
At UZURV, we want riders to receive that same, high level of service. We hope that every ride will make a meaningful impact for the riders and for their communities — and drivers like you are an essential part of this goal. Without drivers, people like Turvey’s son would lose a sense of freedom, and their families would lose that peace of mind.
SUPPORTING DIFFERENT NEEDS WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING
In addition to being the Director of Training and Development at SOAR365, Holland is also a mother of an autistic child, so she had some valuable insights to share with us. We want drivers on the UZURV platform to feel prepared when serving riders with autism so they can accommodate each rider’s needs and make rides as comfortable as possible.
Predictability, routine, and timeliness are important to people with autism. Being late or early can throw things off.
What you can do:
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- Arrive on time and wait until the exact scheduled pick-up time to mark Arrived at Pick-up in your app.
- If your schedule changes, notify Operations using the app as soon as possible so riders can have advanced notice.
Autism can make sensory input feel more intense. Loud noises can be painful. Scents can be overwhelming. Clothing and certain textures can feel wrong.
What you can do:
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- Lower the volume or turn off the radio or music.
- Refrain from using air fresheners in your vehicle.
- Be mindful of personal hygiene, perfumes and colognes, and body odor.
- Keep the temperature in the vehicle comfortable for the rider.
Autistic riders may avoid eye contact, ask questions that feel obvious to others, or not speak at all. They aren’t being rude — they have a different set of social skills.
What you can do:
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- Use short, clear directions when speaking to your rider.
- Communicate verbally because gestures can be misinterpreted.
- Avoid using figures of speech and sarcasm, which can be hard to understand.
As Autism Acceptance Month comes to a close, there’s a final piece of advice from Holland that everyone can follow:
“It’s ok to ask. People can feel uncomfortable asking someone with a disability directly how to help. They’re embarrassed or afraid of messing up, but it’s ok to just ask, how can I support you?”
Questions or Comments?
Contact support@uzurv.com using the email you use with your app. We’re always happy to hear from you!