ERIC Number: EJ1382498
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jul
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Autism-Friendly Public Bus Transport: A Personal Experience-Based Perspective
Dirix, Helene; Ross, Veerle; Brijs, Kris; Bertels, Laura; Alhajyaseen, Wael; Brijs, Tom; Wets, Geert; Spooren, Annemie
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v27 n5 p1219-1234 Jul 2023
Community participation and the formation of social networks are crucial for a qualitative life. To this end, transportation plays an essential role. Many autistic people rely on public transportation for their mobility needs. However, research shows that it is not always easy for them to use it. The issues they face when using public bus transport have not yet been thoroughly studied. The current case study in Flanders aimed to give autistic people the opportunity to express the issues they face while using public bus transportation. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was carried out. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 autistic individuals. The interviews were analyzed based on the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Three main themes emerged: creating predictability, limiting stimuli, and open and accessible communication. In addition, various coping strategies were described, such as the use of noise-canceling headphones. The results of this study may lead to a more autism-friendly public transportation environment.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bus Transportation, Adults, Experience, Prediction, Stimuli, Communication (Thought Transfer)
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Belgium
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A