Travel trainer

Job Title:
Travel Trainer

I help older adults and people with disabilities learn how to independently use public transit in the greater Boston area. I teach them how to plan their trips and raise their awareness about helpful resources and people to look for while traveling. I also introduce them to apps or official websites with features that I think they’d find helpful.

I start my day by checking voice messages and email for any changes—such as a trainee needing to reschedule. If there’s time, I may complete some paperwork in the office. I’ll check my calendar to ensure that my advance-trip planning is accurate and that extra details have been accounted for as well. Once that’s set, I'll journey out to my training.

I use the same public transit that I want my trainees to understand, allowing me to have more on-the-ground experience with recent conditions. I meet with the trainee and work on one of their goals with them.

After finishing with a trainee, I may return to the office to complete paperwork, reach out to other prospective trainees for meetings, or travel to work with another trainee.

I may work with up to eight people one-on-one at any given time. Depending on scheduling and the length of each session, I’ll meet with at least one person a day, focusing on the trainee’s goal of understanding how to navigate a particular route on the transit system.

Sessions typically involve helping the trainee understand different components of our system, including point-to-point planning and who they can ask for assistance, especially regarding mobility concerns.

The timeline for participants to complete training varies. Some trainees may complete training quickly, while others may require more time. I work with trainees until they feel fully confident in their ability to plan their own trips and travel independently.

I studied sociology and political science in college. After my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a research assistant and then as an analyst at an educational compliance company, where I learned about disabilities and compliance concerns. I then worked as a travel coordinator before transitioning into my current role as a travel trainer.

Successful travel trainers need navigational skills, empathy, and patience. They should be willing to learn and refine their knowledge regularly.

Start volunteering or working with older adults or people with disabilities. Get to know your area, including public transit and local pathways, to understand how they affect mobility.

The most challenging part of my job is coordinating schedules and keeping everything organized. However, I enjoy meeting new people and helping trainees gain confidence in using public transit, which is very rewarding.