Work

‘Navigating the ride’: stakeholder perspectives on public transportation challenges for children with autism in India

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the perspectives of primary caregivers, healthcare professionals and transport personnel regarding the challenges associated with public transportation for children with autism spectrum disorder in India. DESIGN: This study applied a descriptive phenomenological qualitative design. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching centre in South India. PARTICIPANTS: 21 participants comprising nine primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder, six healthcare professionals and six transport personnel were recruited using purposive maximum variability sampling. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants and audio-recorded for transcription. The transcripts were manually coded and analysed using Systematic Text Condensation. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that public transport is a complex social ecosystem comprising the child, caregivers, co-passengers and transport personnel. Healthcare professionals and policymakers, while not directly involved in travel, also influence the experience. Three major themes were identified: challenges associated with public transport, facilitators for better travel experiences and stakeholder recommendations for improving travel experiences. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified key barriers to accessing public transport for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Facilitators and potential strategies to address travel-related challenges are also discussed. These findings provide insights into stakeholder perspectives that may inform efforts to improve accessibility and travel experiences on public transport for children.

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-114263

Authors: Aksa Sara Biju, Joseph Thomas Raj Bedford, Reema Samuel

Institution: Christian Medical College, Vellore

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,839