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The Essential Guide to Safe Travel-Training for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

The Essential Guide to Safe Travel-Training for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

Desirée Gallimore | Mike Steer

(2017)

Abstract

For those growing up with an intellectual disability or autism, comfortable, safe and independent travel will prove an invaluable life skill. The key to pursuing fulfilling work and leisure activities and developing as an individual, it also brings a liberating level of self-sufficiency and reassurance of equality within society.

Arriving at this goal can be daunting. Dr Gallimore's straightforward five-step system will guide parents and professionals through successful training for children of any age and ability. Focusing on understanding each child's individual goals and challenges, it gives you the 'ingredients' needed to fully prepare for each journey in advance, and shows how to judge when to step back and let the child progress alone. Addressing specific fears and obstacles that make travel difficult for children with learning difficulties, it sets out all the precautions necessary to safeguard children and others as they learn to reach their chosen destinations.

Clear-cut and far-reaching, this book is enriched by Dr Gallimore's extensive experience as a psychologist, mobility specialist and travel-trainer. It is a heartening resource and will be necessary reading for anyone working with a child to get them on their path to independent travel.


Desirée Gallimore's well-structured lockstep 'bible' on travel-training will go a long way to alleviating the valid concerns and fears that plague families and carers when considering independent travel for people with a disability. She skilfully debunks many of the myths associated with independent travel whilst stressing the fact that it is a life changing/door opening event for people of all ages. This is an important and highly recommended book for all concerned with maximising the independence of every person with a disability.
Eileen Lyons, Department of Education, Transition to Post School for Students with Disabilities, Northern Sydney
This book is must-read for everyone who provides travel instruction! An expert instructor describes the specialized teaching strategies and sequence of instruction she has used for decades. The case studies show how the crucial elements of an effective training program yield success. I recommend this invaluable resource to all of my colleagues.
Bonnie Dodson-Burk, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Dr Desirée Gallimore is the Psychologist/Director of Travel-Training Solutions, and a consultant for parents and professionals on the way to teach safe travel-training for children with intellectual disabilities. She is the Psychologist/Academic Manager for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, and coordinates the Master of Disability Studies (Sensory Disability) at the Macquarie University, Australia. She is also the lead editor of the International Journal of Orientation and Mobility.
In this excellent volume Dr. Desirée Gallimore gives the reader the understanding and confidence to teach students safe and independent travel. The book engagingly balances great expertise with solid common sense applied to a vitally important topic. Congratulations to author and publisher for producing a winner!
Dr. Michael Farrell, private consultant in special education and author of Educating Special Students (3rd edition)

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
The Essential Guide to Safe Travel-Training for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities by Dr Desirée Gallimore 5
Foreword 13
Preface 15
About the Author 18
Acknowledgments 19
Introduction 21
Part 1: Travel-Training – The Essentials 27
1. A Life Priority: Safe and Independent Travel 29
Key Points 32
2. How to Achieve Safe and Independent Travel 33
Trust in your mind 34
The power of words 35
Your future is created today 36
It’s your decision 37
The five consecutive steps of travel-training 37
Applying the five steps of travel-training 38
Key points 40
Part 2: Travel-=Training – The Ingredients 41
3. Establishing the Travel-Training Goal 43
What’s a goal? 43
Considerations to help establish a relevant and achievable travel-training goal 45
Key points 59
4. Planning and Teaching a Travel Route 60
Planning the route 60
Which segment to teach first? 61
How to teach route segments 62
Sequencing travel-training skills 70
Key points 71
Part 3: Travel-Training – Important Considerations 73
5. Techniques for Travel-Training 75
Reinforcement—let’s be positive! 77
Ignoring incorrect behavior 79
Prompting 80
Stop talking 82
Criteria setting and fading out from a program 83
Teaching schedules 86
Forward and backward chaining 86
Key points 89
6. Environmental Factors 90
Where’s my red hat? Being visible to traffic 90
Fear of dogs, loud noises, and people 91
Stranger danger 95
Key points 96
7. Road Crossing – Teaching Road Crossing to the Beginner 98
Crossing the road at traffic lights using audio-tactile signals 100
Crossing the road at a marked/controlled crossing 102
Crossing the road at an unmarked/uncontrolled crossing 105
Key points 109
8. Other Very Important Travel-Training Skills 111
Money handling 111
Communication skills 112
Phone skills 113
Time awareness 114
Bus travel 116
Train travel 121
Key points 127
9. Travel-Training in Schools with Student Groups with Disabilities 128
Preparation for travel-training 129
Key points 138
10. Travel-Training Case Studies 139
Routes for beginner travelers 140
Routes for intermediate travelers 161
Routes for advanced travelers 182
Top Tips for Trainers 199
Glossary 201
Encouragement from Parents and Professionals 207
Index 212
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