Monmouthshire County Council has launched an aid for passengers with language and communication difficulties using public transport across Wales.
The Orange Wallet is a simple yet very effective idea and was unveiled at the council’s autism information day in Monmouth on Saturday, 15th February. It is a wallet containing plastic pockets designed to hold words and pictures that will communicate needs to public transport staff. Transport staff on all Arriva Train Wales lines and major local bus services will be trained to recognise the wallet and provide appropriate help while displaying patience.
The scheme, funded by the Welsh Government, is part of the All Wales Autism Spectrum Disorder strategy and is intended to help people, especially those on the Autistic Spectrum, to cope more easily with public transport.
The wallet is available from the council’s one stop shops in Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth.
County Councillor Geoff Burrows, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for social care and health said:
“The Orange Wallet scheme is a wonderful solution to the difficulty some people may experience in communicating their needs, especially when using public transport and engaging with strangers. We are pleased to support it”.
