Publications and Resources
Talking Taxi Tools
Talking Taxi Communication Boards Final April 08
Personal Journey Card Final April 08
Do you know someone who sometimes has trouble being understood?
Have you ever had trouble getting your message across to a taxi driver?
The Minister for Transport, Lynne Kosky, last week launched ‘Talking Taxis’, a MetroAccess project, that hopes to make communication between taxi drivers and passengers easier.
‘Talking Taxis’ features a small suite of simple communication tools such
as picture boards, personal journey cards and alphabet boards. These tools
are particularly beneficial for passengers with a disability that affects
their communication. The tools aim to improve communication between drivers
and passengers, reducing confusion about destinations, payments and routes.
We are really pleased that the Minister for Transport has approved these tools to become available statewide after seeing such positive feedback generated during the trial period.
The Picture Boards contain simple pictures and phrases that are commonly used in taxis. The Personal Journey Cards involve filling in the cards for each journey, detailing specific information to the taxi driver in a simple way about the desired destination and payment.
This project has been the result of a strong partnership between:
MetroAccess at Maribyrnong City Council
Scope’s Communication Resource Centre
North West Regional Communication Service at Isis Primary Care
Disability day services David House, Art/Life and Scope Chis-Lon
Victorian Taxi Directorate
Local taxi drivers
We hope that by using the ‘Talking Taxi’ tools, people with a communication disability can travel more confidently in taxis, which could lead to more social and work opportunities, and more independence in their daily lives. People who have used the tools have fed back that they like the sense of control – it contributes to their independence. The tools increase the confidence of passengers, but also the confidence of some parents/carers who aren’t used to the people they care for using taxis on their own. Feedback also showed that the tools were useful where the passenger or the driver had low English proficiency.