MTA to revive popular program that allows students with autism to record PSAs for NYC's subway system
The transit agency canceled the program in 2024 and told a leader of a group that works with autistic kids that it denied his application to continue it this year — a rejection first reported by The Post on Monday.
Top officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority then apparently changed their minds.
The MTA co-sponsored events with autistic kids in 2022 and 2023, and issued press releases touting the program.
'I am writing to let you know the MTA decided to honor your children this year after all. I am so pleased,' Jonathan Trichter, head of the Autism Transit Project, said in an e-letter to parents of children with autism.
The MTA will work with another group, INCLUDEnyc which also works with kids with autism spectrum disorder, on playing the announcements during April Autism Acceptance Month.
INCLUDEnyc co-sponsored the program in 2023.
'This is great news. It's the right thing to do,' parent Brenna Calles said.
Her son, Morgan, 8, recorded public service announcements in prior years and is hoping to do so again.
'It's going to be great for kids to showcase their abilities and why they matter,' Calles said.
Parents, who planned on testifying at Wednesday's MTA board meeting to appeal for reinstatement were notified Tuesday that it would be renewed.
Calles credited the Post story with getting the program reinstated.
'We are pleased to be collaborating with the MTA on the Autism Transit project again on behalf of NYC children with autism and other disabilities and their families who love trains and all things transit!,' said INCLUDEnyc's executive director, Cheryelle Cruickshank.
MTA chairman Janno Lieber claimed there had been a misunderstanding.
'Our autism program is ongoing and it existed long ago and it is continuing' Lieber said following Wednesday's MTA board meeting .
'No. 1, we run autism programs year round, not just once a year. We especially have a lot of programs in the month of April.
'And there was confusion, because the one outfit [Autism Transit Project] that you're taking that commentary from was misunderstood. We had an exclusive relationship with them. They're a private school,' he said.
'We're working with public schools that serve this population, the special needs population, and so the misunderstanding has been cleared up, and we're going to continue to do a lot of programs with that population.'
Shanifa Riera, chief customer officer at MTA, insisted the agency is 'committed to highlighting this community.'
'We use the 10,000 digital screens to highlight autism acceptance month, as well as lighting many of our high traffic terminals blue to bring awareness to our customers and everyone across the city,' Riera said.
Trichter, who had complained that the MTA denied his request to revive the program, declined to comment Wednesday.
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