Columbus, Ohio Is Piloting A Mobile App That Helps People With Cognitive Disabilities Use Public Transit

"On a brisk autumn day in mid-November, Jose waits for the Columbus city bus with his caregiver, Joshua Cook, associate director of ARC Industries, a service organization for people with disabilities. Jose, whose last name will not be disclosed for protection purposes, is a middle-aged man with vision impairments.

At the Delawanda Park and Ride bus stop, Jose patiently waits for an app on his smartphone to tell him when his bus has arrived. Cook stands behind Jose and relishes in the fact how independent he has become over the past few months using this mobile app.

Once on the bus, Jose holds his phone up to his ear, listening for cues on how much farther the bus needs to go until it reaches his destination. Once he is two stops away, the voice on the app tells him to prepare to get off the bus in a few minutes."