Metro recorded 26 people with autism making boarding and safety announcements to be played throughout the system this month as part of Autism Awareness Month.
It’s the transit agency’s first time participating in the Autism Transit Project to raise awareness about autism.
“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 CEO Randy Clarke said in a news release.
“Really unique,” Michael Nix-Spain said. “I’m one of the first children, one of the first teenagers to do it, and I have autism.”
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“It draws attention and awareness to autism,” said Michael’s father, Anthony Spain.
Autism Transit Project founder Jonathan Trichter came up with the idea to instill confidence in those who record the messages.
“Which then, of course, prompts regular riders to consider children who are neurologically different and perhaps understand better that they are different but similar and no less,” Trichter said.
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“This is a young man that I’m proud of every single day,” Anthony Spain said. “He has a part-time job that he does, biking around making Uber Eats deliveries to make spending money, and he shows responsibility.”
“I’m pretty impressed with how far I’ve come,” Michael said.
Public transportation is vital for people like Michael to get around, to get to a job, to be part of society.
“Ten or 15 years ago, we used to warehouse a lot of these kids and leave them to their own devices,” Trichter said. “Today, we challenge them; we try to advance them.”
Trichter hopes to expand the program next year, to other countries.
The 26 announcers were honored at an event at the Franconia-Springfield Metro station April 20.
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