MSU STRIDE Center
Services, Training, and Research for Independence and Desired Employment
Community Safety and Navigation Training is a structured, evidence-based program aimed at helping individuals with disabilities navigate their communities independently. The program teaches essential travel skills, including safely crossing streets, identifying and following bus routes, and using tools like Google Maps effectively. This training empowers participants to confidently reach unfamiliar destinations. By combining targeted instruction on the street and personal safety with hands-on practice in real-world settings, the program helps reduce common barriers to community engagement and employment.
If you are interested in participating in Spartan Works, the first step is to connect with your Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) or Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) counselor. They are there to support you and can help you understand if you are eligible for services. If you're already working with MRS, they can also help you see if this program is the right fit for your needs.
If you haven't contacted MRS or BSBP yet, please know that the eligibility process might take up to three months. Starting this process early can facilitate a smoother transition. We are here to assist you at every stage.
The curriculum integrates prompting, reinforcement, and step-by-step instruction—effective strategies that systematically enhance skills for complex tasks like planning routes and safely crossing streets.
Through gradual practice and fading proximity (the trainer stands nearby and then moves farther away), individuals develop essential skills such as purchasing fares, identifying their bus, pulling the cord at the right stop, and managing transfers when necessary.
Students learn to utilize mobile GPS technology for walking, direct bus routes, and bus transfers. This versatile skillset enables them to independently find and follow directions to almost any new location.
Data collection and regular progress checks ensure that each participant builds confidence and maintains safety skills over time. Trainers adjust their instruction as needed, promoting long-term independence and successful inclusion in the community.
Clear guidelines and practical exercises assist participants in developing safe street-crossing habits, including identifying marked crosswalks, scanning for traffic, and correctly using signals.
Prior to beginning training, participants complete safety assessments for pedestrians and personal safety. These evaluations assess current skill levels, allowing trainers to customize instruction according to each individual's needs.
Instructors teach strategies for recognizing when someone is lost, finding a safe place to wait, and using phone-based tools—such as sharing their live location—to contact an emergency number or a support person.