Oliver Takes the Next Step in Building Independent Travel Skills
Building independent travel skills through 1:1 capacity support
Oliver has been working consistently toward an important personal goal of building the independent travel skills needed to move confidently within his community.
Through 1:1 capacity building support at Mai-Wel, Oliver has focused on developing practical strategies to navigate taxi travel safely and independently.
What might seem like a simple journey from home to Mai-Wel Cessnock involves multiple steps, decisions, and communication points along the way.
Understanding the challenge
For Oliver, developing independent travel skills means managing several moving parts. This includes overcoming communication barriers with drivers, handling money under pressure, and remembering the full step-by-step routine of a door-to-door journey.
Rather than avoiding these challenges, Oliver has approached them with determination, breaking the process down into manageable stages and building confidence gradually.
Learning the essentials
Oliver's independent travel skills progress has been built through structured, practical skill development. He has worked on:
- Communicating clearly and confidently with drivers
- Managing his travel budget using vouchers and a cash card
- Practising each stage of the journey from pick-up to drop-off
One milestone moment was Oliver's transition to sitting in the front seat of the cab. This signalled a new level of readiness and engagement in the process, showing he was prepared to take greater ownership of his travel.
To further support independence, Oliver has also worked with his support worker to create a custom lanyard featuring his home and Mai-Wel addresses. This provides a reliable backup strategy, helping him feel secure even on days when communication may feel more challenging.
A major milestone achieved
A standout achievement in Oliver's journey has been mastering how to pay for his taxi fare independently.
Using his vouchers and cash card confidently marked a significant step forward and demonstrated how much his skills have grown.
This milestone represents more than financial management. It reflects problem-solving, confidence, and the ability to manage real-world situations with increasing independence.
Working toward the end goal
Oliver's ultimate goal is to travel by taxi from home to Mai-Wel Cessnock and back again independently.
With each skill mastered and each challenge overcome, he is moving closer to achieving that goal. His progress shows how structured support can strengthen independent travel skills and increase community participation.
We are proud of Oliver's progress and look forward to celebrating the moment he completes his journey independently.
