ITALY: The Via Blu app has been launched to help autistic people make tram journeys more independently by providing tools to reduce anxiety, uncertainty and sensory overload.
The app has been developed by Kayros Lab through a collaboration between Firenze tramway operator GEST and the Associazione Autismo Firenze, with municipal backing from Firenze and Scandicci local authorities.
It accompanies the user through every stage of the journey, from planning to boarding to arriving at the destination. Features include predictable routes that break down the journey into clear and reassuring steps; sensory anticipation to prepare the user for what they may encounter, including noise, crowds and lights; reassuring information; intuitive maps designed for simple visual navigation; accessible icons and images and short texts to promote independent travel.
‘An inclusive city is a city that designs its services with people’s diverse needs in mind’, said Mayor Sara Funaro. With Via Blu ‘we are taking a concrete step in this direction: using technology to break down invisible barriers and make it easier to navigate the urban landscape. Innovation and collaboration between institutions, businesses and associations thus translate into a concrete tool to make daily life more understandable, predictable and accessible.’
