Subway Sleuths, An Afterschool Program for Children on The Autism Spectrum to Expand Social Skills Using the Wonder of Trains

Investigator: Ely, Marcia

Institution: New York Transit Museum

Grant Amount: $25,000.00

Award Type: Community Grants

City: Brooklyn

State: NY

Country: United States

Year: 2011

Website: http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/

Description The Subway Sleuth Afterschool Program enthusiastically engages students on the spectrum in a topic most love: subways and trains. The NY Transit Museum’s unique location in a decommissioned subway station creates the perfect backdrop to teach vital social skills to spectrum youth. Participants are immersed in transportation while they develop, practice, and generalize social skills essential to leading successful, independent lives. Working in teams, participants use technology to create a power-point style final project. Along the way, they practice making and developing relationships, turn taking, social chat and motor control skills.