Young people in Surrey are paving the way for more inclusive travel experiences. Members of ATLAS, Surrey Youth Voice’s additional needs and disabilities participation group, recently completed a groundbreaking pilot to test Aubin, a free journey-planning app designed specifically for neurodivergent people.
Unlike traditional travel apps that focus on speed and efficiency, Aubin prioritises personalisation and accessibility. Its unique features aim to reduce stress, boost confidence, and make public transport more inclusive. From tailored routes to supportive tools, Aubin helps travellers feel prepared and empowered.
Over three days, ATLAS members travelled across North, East, and West Surrey using Aubin to plan and navigate their journeys. They explored the app’s innovative features and assessed how it could support independence and reduce anxiety for neurodivergent young people.
Accessible, neuroinclusive transport is crucial for young people with additional needs. It enables them to access education, employment, and social opportunities. It fosters independence and combats isolation, key priorities for ATLAS, who have long championed practical solutions for young people with additional needs and disabilities.
What Makes Aubin Different?
Aubin offers tools that go beyond route planning, including:
- Grounding exercises for emotional regulation
- Type-to-speech transcriber for communication support
- Editable Autism Card to help travellers express their needs
These features are designed to make journeys less overwhelming and more empowering.
Following the pilot, ATLAS met with Aubin’s Co-founder and Product Manager, Corinna Smiles, to share feedback and suggest improvements. Recommendations included journey-sharing options, communication prompts, and a journey checklist. Aubin welcomed these ideas and committed to incorporating them into the app.
Corinna Smiles, Co-founder and Product Manager at Aubin, said: “We want to extend a huge thank you to the entire ATLAS team and all the amazing participants. Taking the time to trial Aubin and share your experiences is what makes genuine, user-led design possible. Meeting and learning from you all was truly one of the best parts of the job.”
The pilot earned Aubin the ‘ATLAS seal of approval’, and the group is eager to promote the app to other neurodivergent young people across Surrey.
ATLAS member Emily said: “Being involved in the Aubin project felt empowering. Our input will contribute to improving travel experiences for autistic individuals. I feel honoured to have been a part of shaping this amazing app, which I’m sure will give so many people the tools to travel with confidence.”
Councillor Helyn Clack, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, added: “It’s fantastic to see the impact of the work ATLAS are doing with Aubin to develop this inclusive travel app. It is vital that tools and resources are shaped by the voices of the community they serve. It’s been great for young people in Surrey to work with Aubin, who share our commitment to meaningful co-production and making accessibility a reality for everyone.”
You can download Aubin for free in the app store.
Notes to editors
About ATLAS:
ATLAS is a participation space for young people with additional needs and disabilities. They collaborate with Surrey County Council to support positive, youth-led change. Participation leads to action. Projects like this show how young people’s voices shape real-world solutions.
Are you a young person with additional needs or disabilities and want to make a difference? Join ATLAS and help influence services and resources across Surrey. Find out more and sign up at: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/youth-voice
About Aubin:
Aubin MaaS Ltd is a social-enterprise company creating inclusive mobility-as-a-service tools. Aubin is a first-of-a-kind journey planner and travel companion which supports neurodivergent passengers and helps them to feel more confident on public transport and encourages independent travel. Using our state-of-the-art technology, Aubin combines multimodal routing (walking, cycling, shared mobility, public transport, car-share and park-and-ride) with accessibility-by-design features including customisable accessibility communications tools, text-to-speech, easy-read interfaces, and personal travel preferences: https://aubin.app/
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