Support Transit for Autism

Although many people with autism may not have the attention span to safely drive, they may be high functioning enough to successfully use good public transportation. Now 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with Autism and one day soon these kids are going to be adults and will be old enough to need to go to the store or to work on their own. Most small town/city bus systems are not adequate to get people around town with total ease.

Because of this I always thought that when my daughter with High Functioning Autism got to that age where she wanted to get around independently, that we would have to move to a city with good public transportation. Although she has expressed interest in driving one day, I feel like her attention span is not good enough for her to ever safely drive. The sad part of this is that we love Gainesville and I don’t want to move. All of our friends are here, our careers and family are here. We don’t want to move. But maybe we won’t have to.

There are two different transport directions a growing town/city can move in:
1. Huge roads and overpasses or
2. Better alternative transportation such as bus rapid transit, bike paths and rail.


I strongly believe that all communities should move in the direction of transit. Here is why...it isn’t only about a more pleasurable commute to work anymore, it is about :

1. LOVE -Everyone either knows or loves someone with autism and we want them to have the option for independent mobility around town if they are not able to drive.

2. SAFETY - There are people on the road now who wouldn’t be if there were good, safe, welcoming and user-friendly transit alternatives such as the lovely, clean, college town of Eugene, Oregon’s Bus Rapid Transit System. This alternative will reduce accidents if people are not forced to get behind the wheel to get around town efficiently and conveniently.

3. CONVENIENCE - If you don’t plan on ever using transit because you love your car, supporting transit will help clear the roads for you so you don’t have to sit in growing traffic jams. 20 people on the bus in front of you means 20 less cars on the road in front of you.

4. PLEASURE-You don’t have to use bus rapid transit system every day. Some days you can take your car to work if you know you have to pick up some groceries on the way back. Other days you can use the transit so you can sit back and read or play video games on your phone during your commute.


My biggest concern for my daughter’s future is her mobility. Driving is a huge issue for people with HFA , Aspergers, ADD and ADHD. I lost a sister and her baby to a car accident. I know how dangerous the roads can be. We want to keep our loved ones safe and the best way we can help keep our kids/friends/grandchildren/siblings/cousins with autism safe, is to support transit.


What can you do?

1.Vote for penny taxes (or sometimes quarter penny taxes like here in Gainesville) to build transit in your town.
2. Vote for City and County Commissioners who support transit development over road development,.
3. Write to your politicians.
4. Share this on your Facebook page to make everyone aware that is something we can do for the future of our kids with autism.