"Out and about in London": our work with Transport for London
This guide was done with Transport for London and Greenwich Social Services. It was a development from the earlier work we did with London Buses.
The guide is intended to be changed to suit the needs of different people - it can be amended with a person's own information and pages which are not relevant can be taken out of the folder. (This is a very large file - pdf, 3.98mb)
Working with Words made an audio CD for people who find reading difficult. This link takes you to a Transport for London page where you can download the audio as mp3 files.
We also created a Carers pack to help others support people travel independently. This is to be used alongside the main guide. (pdf, 387kb)
Launching the guide
The then London Mayor Ken Livingstone launched the Out and About Travel Guide.
He said:
"London's transport network can seem complicated and intimidating to people with learning difficulties and a lack of access to transport can cause real problems. This guide will help to give people the confidence to travel independently and to open up access to everything London offers."
See this BBC's News Page to find out more.
Plain English Award
The Out and About guide has also won a Plain English Award. This is what the Judges said:
"This excellent guide has been written to help people with learning difficulties travel round London. Each form of transport is covered and there are pages for the reader to fill in with personal details, making the guide into more of a personal travel journal than an instruction manual. The text is supported by appropriate photographs and the result is a guide that will encourage independence.
"By carefully considering the language they use, the writers have managed to write simple sentences in an adult tone so their readers will not feel patronized. And the clever use of colour means that the 'dos and don'ts' of travel are clearly evident. This publication's thoughtful text and very high production values make it an attractive document for people who need more support to lead independent lives. Well done to everyone involved in producing this worthy winner."
CiB Award
'Out and about London' also won an Award for Excellence for the CiB awards in the New Publication category in 2006. The British Association of Communicators in Business (CiB) "is the UK's leading professional body for in-house, freelance and agency staff involved in internal and corporate communications".
