People with autism, ADHD and other neuropsychiatric disorders may experience difficulties in using public transport, which limits their opportunities for an active life in terms of school, work and hobbies.
In a new research project, Jessica Berg and Jonas Ihlström will investigate how people with neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD) use public transport and what restrictions they experience.
This project focuses on people with neuropsychiatric disorders and their ability to use public transport.
Photo: Annika Johansson/VTI
The starting point for the project is a “whole journey” perspective on mobility. This means that the study will examine the target group’s possibilities to plan, buy tickets and use public transport, to wait at and orient themselves in terminals and bus stops and to understand information and perform the journey in a way that is safe and secure for them.
“In this study, we focus on people with neuropsychiatric disorders who are 13 years or older,” says Jessica Berg, acting head of research at VTI and project manager.
“Our aim with the project is to increase our knowledge of this group of public transport users, to gain knowledge about their experienced restrictions and to suggest measures to improve public transport for this group,” she continues.
People with a neuropsychiatric disorder are often sensitive to sensory impressions, as well as difficulties with social communication, planning, organisation, attention and concentration. These are qualities that can affect the ability to travel, thereby reducing access to school, work and leisure activities.
The study is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration and is due to be completed in October 2021.
Contact:
Jessica Berg
jessica.berg@vti.se
VTI, Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Sweden
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