MBTA Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with Public Service Announcements by Massachusetts Youth

"April is Autism Acceptance Month, and it is a privilege that the MBTA has the opportunity to support young people with autism who in turn support the T through their voices, contributions, and enthusiasm,"said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. "Their station announcements bring joy to our day at the T while delivering invaluable messages reminding our riders to stay safe while using the system. I'm thankful for the partnership of these young people and their families. I'm also so proud to partner with the Autism Transit Project again this year as a way to embrace inclusion and strengthen community representation."

"Many children with autism spectrum disorder have a deep connection to mass transit," said the Founder of the Autism Transit Project Jonathan Trichter. "Frontline transit workers are well aware of this phenomenon. They see it every day when these kids drag their parents on joy rides or ask them questions that are so complex they are sometimes stumped. In addition, children with Autism often come to language differently than neurotypical kids. They latch on to short phrases they focus on in places they love. It is not at all uncommon for the first full sentence an Autistic child utters to be something like, 'Stand clear of the closing doors please!' Such announcements consequently have a deeper meaning for them and their families. By participating in the Autism Transit Project, the MBTA is celebrating a very special bond they have with children on the spectrum. And these kids get to show the rest of us that, while they may be different, they are similar and no less."

To further support the Autism Transit Project and express gratitude to the participating youth and their families, the MBTA hosted a reception downtown at its headquarters again this year.

Allison Taylor, whose daughter Ella Taylor recorded a public service announcement shared, "Every year when her announcement plays, we ride the rails and she feels like a rockstar. She feels confident. She feels like she belongs, and she hasn't always felt that way or felt accepted."

The Autism Transit Project began in 2022 in New York with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In 2024, the MBTA joined NJ Transit, BART, MARTA, WMATA, and Maryland MTA as another national transportation agency taking part in the program. This year, participating agencies include BART, NJ Transit, WMATA, CTA, and the MBTA.