Stand clear of the heartless MTA, please!
The MTA has canceled a popular program that allows students with autism to record public announcements to be played throughout the subway system, stunning Big Apple parents and their kids alike.
Many youths with autism spectrum disorder love the subway, often focusing intensely on the details of trains and buses, subway maps and train schedules — and conductors’ announcements.
The not-for-profit group, the Autism Transit Project, runs the program in concert with transit systems across the country.
But the MTA, which co-sponsored events with autistic kids in 2022 and 2023, refused to participate last year and thus far this year, according to the group.
“Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate this request,” Amanda Valdes, an MTA spokesperson, told Jonathan Trichter, founder of the Autism Transit Project, in a Jan. 22 email.
No explanation was given.
Trichter responded via email, “You’re going to crush the hearts of dozens and dozens of Autistic children in New York City who love the MTA like no other constituency; there will be many tears when they hear this news. I therefore hope very much that the MTA will reconsider.”
Parents and kids with autism are baffled why the MTA has turned into the Grinch.
“It’s a real slap in the face to the kids with autism spectrum disorder,” said Brenna Epstein Calles, whose son, Morgan, did recordings in 2022 and 2023. “It almost seems vindictive. It’s just beyond me.”
Morgan, who is now 8, said doing the announcements was a “really great experience.”
“I was really disappointed when I found out. I was really looking forward to doing it again,” Morgan said.
He even said one of his classmates “was crying” when he heard that the MTA refused to revive the program this year.
Parent Eliyanna Kaiser said her 12-year-old son, Leo was similarly “really disappointed” that the program was discontinued because he never got an opportunity to participate.
“It’s silly. It was a feel-good program for the kids,” she said.
“Leo is really into trains. It’s meaningful to him.”
Andrew Uzzi, an 18-year-old Borough of Manhattan Community College student who participated in the program in high school, was surprised and confused by the program’s seeming end.
“I think it’s a shame. Kids enjoyed the program. They had fun doing it. You could hear the enthusiasm,” Uzzi said.
He said the initiative offered an opportunity for students with autism to show they are somebody with something to say.
“I have autism and I can be my best self just like you,” Uzzi said.
Parents and kids with ASD will be testifying at an MTA hearing Wednesday to try to persuade the brass to reinstate the program for April, which is Autism Awareness month.
The MTA touted the program in 2023 and 2022 during Autism Awareness Month, holding press conferences at Fulton Center Street station and putting out press releases.
In 2023, the students’ recorded announcements were played at 11 stations, including Fulton Street, Union Square, Times Square, Penn Station, and 34th Street/Penn Station, among others.
MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said at the time, “I thank the children and their families for their hard work on these announcements and hope they continue to foster and embrace their curiosity about the transit system.”
Trichter, founder of the Autism Transit Project, claimed the MTA has a personal beef with him because he’s a Republican activist who was a candidate for state comptroller, and that’s why the program was canceled.
He said that has nothing to do with the autism program and the kids shouldn’t be punished.
“Two years ago in 2023, the MTA agreed to do the project under one condition. This was after they first did it in 2022 but found out who I was at the last minute, I suspect. Because the one condition in 2023 was that `I not be involved,”’ Trichter said.
In 2023, ICLUDEnyc coordinated the event with the MTA rather than Trichter and the Autism Transit Project.
“That was it. They agreed to do it only if I wasn’t involved,” he said.
“I was hoping we could keep working with them [ICLUDEnyc] in order to satisfy the MTA’s demand. But evidently that wasn’t an option for the MTA this year or last year.”
The MTA declined to comment.
