Travel training helps low-vision children navigate bus system
Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Transit System (CTS) participated in the NFB BELL Academy, a National Federation of the Blind program that helps blind and low-vision children to be more confident and independent for the third straight year.
Last Friday, on the final day of the week long camp hosted at Austin Peay State University, CTS staff trained more than 15 academy participants on how to navigate the transit system.
“Our travel training gives people the opportunity to learn about how transit works,” said Paul Nelson, CTS transportation manager.
The training session, at the Governor’s Terrace North parking lot at APSU, covered all the essential steps for using public transportation.
Topics included waiting at a bus stop, how to read a schedule and recognize and choose the correct bus and route, how to pay a fare, and how to speak to the bus driver.
CTS staff also explained how to use reserved seating for disabled people, how to signal for a stop, and how to request to use the chair lift.
Nelson said the training is important for BELL Academy students because many of them will be transit dependent for life.
The NFB BELL Academy, which stands for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning, is a nationwide summer program for children 4-12.
Clarksville participants received daily Braille instruction, orientation mobility lessons, and expanded core curriculum activities. The camp also included arts and crafts, sports and recreational activities and community field trips. Breakfast and lunch were donated by Manna Café and dinner meals were prepared by campers.
For more on the NFB BELL Academy camp in Tennessee, visit www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy/tennessee
