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Communicating and Asking for Help

It’s easy to get lost or turned around in some places, so it’s good to know who to ask if you need help. Other passengers might be able to help, but sometimes they don’t know the right information. Transportation workers usually wear uniforms or work in specific locations so they are easier to find.
A travel trainer stands with his hand on a young student's shoulder as the student speaks to a token booth clerk at the Bay Parkway subway station.

Date: c. 1980s

Image Description: A black-and-white photograph inside the Bay Parkway subway station showing a travel trainer standing behind a young student in a plaid shirt, resting a reassuring hand on the student’s shoulder as the student interacts with an MTA clerk inside the token booth. A sign on the booth glass reads “BAY PARKWAY” at the top and “Tokens $1.25” near the window slot, with subway turnstiles visible to the left and another pedestrian walking in the background.

Source: Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA) Collection

A female MTA worker stands inside a city bus and speaks with seated passengers while handing out informational pamphlets.

Date: c. 1980s

Image Description: A black-and-white photograph taken inside city bus number 4922 showing a female MTA employee in a uniform vest, white shirt, and tie standing in the aisle and handing an informational brochure to an older Black woman seated by the window. Another woman wearing a name badge sits beside her holding the vertical grab bar, while overhead signs above the front windshield read “4922,” “NOTICE,” and “STAND BEHIND WHITE LINE.”

Source: Peggy Groce Collection

A young man with Down syndrome holds up an open identification wallet to show a transit worker on a city street.

Date: c. 1980s

Image Description: A black-and-white street-level photograph showing a young man with Down syndrome wearing a plaid button-down shirt holding up an open identification card case toward a transit worker or bus operator wearing a dark vest over a white collared shirt with pens and route booklets in his pockets. The older man looks down attentively at the communication card while pedestrians and a city street are visible in the background.

Source: Peggy Groce Collection

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