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

Desire Gallimores 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, Australia

In this excellent volume Dr. Desire 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, Third Edition

This book is a 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

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THE ESSENTIAL

GUIDE TO SAFE

TRAVEL-TRAINING

FOR CHILDREN

WITH AUTISM AND

INTELLECTUAL

DISABILITIES

Dr. Desire Gallimore

Foreword by Dr. Mike Steer AM

Preface by Lizzie dAvigdor and Martha dAvigdor

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is provided for general purposes only. It is not intended and should not be relied upon as specific advice for every individual. As such it is advised that a specific travel-training program is obtained for each individual that is tailored to that persons specific needs. Neither the publisher nor author accepts any legal responsibility for any personal injury or other damage or loss arising from the use of the information in this book.

First published in 2017

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright Dr. Desire Gallimore 2017

Foreword copyright Dr. Mike Steer AM 2017

Preface copyright Lizzie dAvigdor and Martha dAvigdor 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying, storing in any medium by electronic means or transmitting) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the law or under terms of a licence issued in the UK by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. www.cla.co.uk or in overseas territories by the relevant reproduction rights organization, for details see www.ifrro.org. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorized act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 78592 257 2

eISBN 978 1 78450 542 4

To my brothers, Paul and Randall,
for their love, guidance, and questionable humor

Contents

Foreword

Travel-training is, without doubt, one of the most important life skills a person with an intellectual disability can achieve. To be able to travel independently and safely gives individuals their freedom, and the ability to take control of their lives. It brings the person those feelings we all yearn for: happiness, self-worth, and self-fulfillment. Once achieved, it affects everyone in that persons life, whether it be amazement that independent travel was able to be achieved or recognition of the greatly enlarged life the person will now enjoy. It can also be a cause for self-reflection on our own beliefs about the ability of people, and the impact our limiting beliefs might have on the life aspirations of others. The aging parent who travel-trained their child to independence feels pride and relief that they will one day shuffle off this mortal coil with fewer worries, knowing that their child will be able to fully enjoy and access their life opportunities and be safe while doing so.

I recently caught a train at Central Station in downtown Sydney during the busy morning rush. I was sitting in a compartment and was approached by a well-dressed young man who wanted to share my seat. I moved over and he sat down. He wished me good morning and I him. He then continued listening to music through his headphones. This young man had Down syndrome yet in this workaday environment it didnt define him. It was no big deal. Yet Down syndrome once was. This helped me reflect on societys changing perception of people with a disability and the change in public perception that independent travel has generated.

So why has Dr. Gallimore written this remarkable bookthe first of its kind about travel-training? Apart from being an authority on the subject, she has spent over 30 years actually practicing it. She believed it was time to share the how to as widely as possible so that children and adults with an intellectual disability can get on with their lives. I share her urgency. In this remarkable book, Dr. Gallimore has provided a step-by-step approach to travel-training. What we teach today will affect tomorrow, allowing our children, clients, and friends with intellectual disabilities innovative ways to live lives of enjoyment and accessibility, and to have the same sort of quality of life that we all value. I greatly enjoyed reading this book and learned a great deal from doing so. I am confident that you will too.

Dr. Mike Steer AM
Conjoint Senior Lecturer (Vision Impairment)
University of Newcastle Australia

Preface

Lizzie: Where are you Martha?

Im on the train from Adelaide to Orange [1130 km/702 miles]! Weve stopped at Broken Hill. Im going to have dinner soon and whats more, Im going to have a glass of wine with it! The voice of my 36-year-old niece, almost squeaking with excitement, told me how much she was enjoying the journey. She was on her own, with not a care in the world.