Traveling can sometimes be difficult for this target group, sudden changes on the track or a train that arrives too late can cause a lot of stress.
Traveling by train, for example, is self-evident for many people, but it is not as obvious as we think. The Dutch Railways is introducing something new, a so-called TreinTrainPakket. This aid should make traveling easier for people with a mild intellectual disability. Traveling can sometimes be difficult for this target group, sudden changes on the track or a train that arrives too late can cause a lot of stress. NS strives to make the Netherlands permanently accessible to everyone.
So everyone must (be able to) participate! For this reason, the TreinTrainPakket has been developed to make independent travel easier for target groups who have difficulty with this. This package has been developed by various organizations and with people with a mild intellectual disability. Traveling represents freedom and is therefore very important for everyone. In the presence of Princess Laurentien, among others, Wouter Koolmees recently handed over the packages to the first five VSO schools and healthcare institutions that will start using them. This handover took place at the National Railway Museum in Utrecht.
"For me, traveling by train equals freedom. This way I can also easily visit places that are a bit further than my own place of residence. Last week I was able to take a nice walk in the Veluwe".
The TreinTrainPackage consists of five parts: there is an online explanation exercise module about the most relevant parts of the train journey. A special brochure has also been made for NS with little text but with many pictures. There is an assistance card in the package that can optionally be filled in if the traveler cannot find a solution at that time. This aid card has been developed by Stichting MEE. The aid card is especially for vulnerable travelers who are not always able to properly explain what is going on.
A Virtual Reality game has also been developed to practice traveling by train. In this game, they can deal with challenges such as delays or missing a train. There is also a real experience trip in the package, a group then goes to the station together with a colleague from the Dutch Railways. Everyone can ask all kinds of questions and really travel a bit by train. The five schools that have received the TreinTrainPackage may use it for 2 months, after which the packages will be sent to five other institutions or VSO schools. Interested institutions or VSO schools can register for this.
