About this resource
Independent travel opens up work, study and social life. This plan maps one regular trip into clear steps, lists what to bring, sets out what to do if something goes wrong and tracks practice from full support to travelling alone.
Purpose
To support confident, safe independent travel on a familiar route.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Disability support workers. Also relevant for occupational therapists, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adults and young people learning to travel independently.
Practice setting: Community access and travel training, alongside the person's support team.
Suggested uses
- Travel training
- Preparing for a new job or course
- Building confidence after a change in routine
- Sharing plans with family and the team
Instructions for practitioners
- Plan the route with the person and practise it together first.
- Use photos of real landmarks and stops.
- Fade support gradually as the person is ready.
- Agree the backup plan and practise it.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Follow your journey steps.
- Bring your checklist items.
- Use your backup plan if something goes wrong.
Accessibility considerations
Add photos of stops and landmarks. Store a copy on the person's phone.
Scope and limitations
A planning tool. Travel training decisions should consider the person's safety, preferences and team input.
Research basis
Active support, which gives people real opportunities and just-enough help to take part in everyday activities, increases engagement for people with intellectual disability.
- Mansell, J., & Beadle-Brown, J. (2012). Active support: Enabling and empowering people with intellectual disabilities. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Symbols are original line drawings created for Practitioner Plus.
