TFIL Travels

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TFIL Travel Trips

Explore Our Travel Trip Experience

Want to learn more about what to expect? On this page, you will find details about the different travel trips we lead. The TFIL team offers both open group trips that are held regularly and open to anyone, as well as, custom trips for schools, day programs, group homes, and other organizations that serve people with IDD.

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Open Travel Trip Experiences

Open Travel Trip Experiences are open to the public, and trips happen monthly and quarterly throughout the year. The sessions introduce the public transit systems and include a trip to a popular local destination, such as shopping centers, libraries, and museums.

 

 

Monthly Metro Rail Trips

Join us for our Monthly Metro Rail Trips, where we meet at a WMATA Metro station and ride the train together as a group. Along the way, we go over the Metro Rail map, how to use a SmarTrip card, reading station signs, navigating transfers, and knowing what to do if something goes wrong.

 

Register
Quarterly Bus Trips

Come on one of our Quarterly Bus Trips, where we meet at a local bus stop within the DMV area and ride a public bus together. We cover how to plan your route, check real-time bus arrival information, pay your fare, request a stop, and practice safe riding skills. These trips offer a hands-on way to build confidence using the bus.

 

Register
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Custom Travel Trip Experiences

Custom Travel Trip Experiences are reserved for schools, day programs, residential providers, and other support organizations looking for a customized travel trip. TFIL staff will help coordinate an experience that is meaningful to you and your team. Click to “Learn More” or email techforindependence@thearcofnova.org for more information.

 

Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
These trips are a good fit for people who are learning to travel independently and can stay with the group safely. You don’t need to be fully independent, but you should be able to follow along without one-on-one help. If someone needs extra support because of safety, behavior, or medical needs, they must come with a support person. Anyone under 18 must come with a parent, guardian, or support person no matter what.
The trips are completely free to attend. We just ask that everyone registers ahead of time so we can plan for the group.
Nope! We provide free SmarTrip cards for all participants and support persons. During the trip, staff will also show you how to get your own card, and briefly explain programs like MetroAccess and Reduced Fare for future use.
Trip times can vary depending on the destination, so be sure to check your email for details from the TFIL team after you register. Most trips last between 2.5 to 3 hours, but this may change based on the day’s plan.
Each trip is a little different depending on the destination. The TFIL team will email you the details after you sign up. We usually visit places like shopping centers, food courts, or other fun spots in the community. If you have suggestions for future trip locations, we’d love to hear them—feel free to contact us!
We currently do not offer one-on-one travel training. However, we partner with several organizations that provide this service, including WMATA MetroReady Travel Training, Dulles Area Transportation Association, and The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia. Feel free to reach out if you'd like more information or need help finding the right fit for your needs.
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Read WTOP’s Matt About Town’s article about Arc2Independence and see one of our travel trips in action.

 

Matt About Town article

Photos from Travel Trips

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TFIL team accompanied by summer camp attendees on a memorable Metro Rail ride.

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TFIL team collaborated with Alexandria City High School to lead an educational trip to the Planet Word Museum.

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TFIL team partnered with The Arc of Loudoun to lead a fun trip to Tysons Corner with participants from across Northern Virginia.

We also offer other events throughout the year! To stay updated on the exact dates of the events below and other exciting announcements, be sure to sign up for the TFIL newsletter.

tfil event

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