In 2025 the Motability Foundation reported that only 51% of young disabled people find it ‘easy’ to use public transport.
This was a problem that Cornwall Council wanted to face head on, when they approached Digital Urban on developing a gamified experience to help young people with learning disabilities gain more confidence utilising their local bus services.
The Independent Travel Training game (ITT) was devised so that young disabled people could engage with elements of Transport for Cornwall’s travel app through a series of mini games in a fun and stress free environment. This included identifying the correct bus on a timetable, speaking to a bus driver and identifying where a wheelchair user would position themselves on the bus.
The ITT game has recently gone through the user testing phase where it was delivered to Healthy Cornwall’s Learning Disability and Autism Support team, called the CHAMPS. They are a team of people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people who advocate for and support the needs of people with a learning disability in Cornwall.
For this project we had a specific target audience, therefore at the design stage it was important to employ extreme user methodology. This is so we could ensure that the users of the game could engage with it confidently therefore getting the best out of the product and benefitting their daily lives. The game highlights the importance that transport should be working for everyone in the community.
We have been working closely with Miriam Binsztok the Transport Coordination Service Manager at Cornwall Council who states,
“We are delighted to work with Digital Urban to develop the independent travel training game to support people who may lack confidence using public transport. By building knowledge, confidence and practical skills in a virtual environment, the game will enable more people to travel independently, access education, employment and wider opportunities, and participate more fully in their communities.”
So what’s next? We have received some incredible feedback from the user testing phase and look forward to filling in the narrative gaps, continuing to develop a game that can change people’s lives for the better.
