The whole journey chain with public transport for people with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – a scoping review

Independent transport mobility is an important contributor to health, well-being, and participation. Several skills and competences are required for a person to use the transport system. The characteristics of cognitive disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may pose barriers to independent travel.

Methods

The study’s aim was to synthesise knowledge on the use of public transport among individuals with ASD or ADHD using the whole journey chain perspective. A scoping review using the PRISMA ScR framework was conducted, and included articles published between January 2012 and June 2022. A total of 11 studies from four countries were included in the analysis.

Results

This study complements the whole journey chain perspective with a phase that takes place long before the journey begins, and which concerns planning and preparation. Confident travellers could easily learn new routes, while those lacking confidence faced challenges, especially with unexpected route changes or cancellations.

Conclusions

There is a great need for emphasis on the design of public transport facilities and public spaces to increase the sense of safety for travellers with ASD, and to assist them with information-seeking, comprehension, and recovery between journeys.