Neuro-aware journeys : the lived experiences of autistic adults and caregivers in Swedish public transport
Sarraf, Mohammad ; Girdler, Sonya LU ; Hayden-Evans, Maya ; Bölte, Sven and Hedvall, Per-Olof LU
(2026)
In Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
36.
- Abstract
Urban mobility is a key mechanism through which the autistic community asserts their right to the city , more broadly representing the neurodiversity movement’s struggle for spatial justice. While public transport plays a critical role in facilitating mobility for the autistic community, limited research has examined their perspectives on how physical and social environmental factors shape their experiences and functioning in urban environments. This study aimed to examine the lived experience of autistic individuals and their caregivers in navigating public transport through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) . Employing an abductive approach, combining both inductive and deductive... (More)
Urban mobility is a key mechanism through which the autistic community asserts their right to the city , more broadly representing the neurodiversity movement’s struggle for spatial justice. While public transport plays a critical role in facilitating mobility for the autistic community, limited research has examined their perspectives on how physical and social environmental factors shape their experiences and functioning in urban environments. This study aimed to examine the lived experience of autistic individuals and their caregivers in navigating public transport through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) . Employing an abductive approach, combining both inductive and deductive coding (guided by the ICF), analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 participants in Sweden identified four key themes: sensory overload, unpredictability, socio-spatial constraints, and inadequate support policies and public awareness. Findings underscore the role of environmental factors in shaping autistic individuals’ experience of accessing public transport. Importantly, findings highlight that despite growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by the autistic community in accessing public transport, this awareness is yet to translate into meaningful action and public policy. Importantly, there is a need for policies that move beyond physical accessibility, incorporating neuro-aware strategies, enhancing both the cognitive and sensory accessibility of public transport.
(Less)
- author
- Sarraf, Mohammad
; Girdler, Sonya
LU
; Hayden-Evans, Maya
; Bölte, Sven
and Hedvall, Per-Olof
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Autism, Mobility and public transport, Neuro-aware environments, Neurodiversity, WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- in
- Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
- volume
- 36
- article number
- 101910
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105031385277
- ISSN
- 2590-1982
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.trip.2026.101910
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2957dc17-482c-4f03-97de-fcaead08f287
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-08 19:26:46
- date last changed
- 2026-03-31 10:53:55
@article{2957dc17-482c-4f03-97de-fcaead08f287,
abstract = {{<p>Urban mobility is a key mechanism through which the autistic community asserts their right to the city , more broadly representing the neurodiversity movement’s struggle for spatial justice. While public transport plays a critical role in facilitating mobility for the autistic community, limited research has examined their perspectives on how physical and social environmental factors shape their experiences and functioning in urban environments. This study aimed to examine the lived experience of autistic individuals and their caregivers in navigating public transport through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) . Employing an abductive approach, combining both inductive and deductive coding (guided by the ICF), analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 participants in Sweden identified four key themes: sensory overload, unpredictability, socio-spatial constraints, and inadequate support policies and public awareness. Findings underscore the role of environmental factors in shaping autistic individuals’ experience of accessing public transport. Importantly, findings highlight that despite growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by the autistic community in accessing public transport, this awareness is yet to translate into meaningful action and public policy. Importantly, there is a need for policies that move beyond physical accessibility, incorporating neuro-aware strategies, enhancing both the cognitive and sensory accessibility of public transport.</p>}},
author = {{Sarraf, Mohammad and Girdler, Sonya and Hayden-Evans, Maya and Bölte, Sven and Hedvall, Per-Olof}},
issn = {{2590-1982}},
keywords = {{Autism; Mobility and public transport; Neuro-aware environments; Neurodiversity; WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives}},
title = {{Neuro-aware journeys : the lived experiences of autistic adults and caregivers in Swedish public transport}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2026.101910}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.trip.2026.101910}},
volume = {{36}},
year = {{2026}},
}