Community Mobility for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Community mobility encompasses the range of ways in which individuals traverse neighbourhoods and public spaces to access education, employment, social activities and essential services. For people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), navigating community environments presents unique challenges arising from differences in social communication, sensory sensitivities and executive functioning. Difficulties in processing complex sensory information—such as traffic noise, unpredictable pedestrian dynamics or crowded public transport—can lead to heightened anxiety and reduced willingness to engage in independent journeys. Furthermore, deficits in planning and flexible thinking may impede route finding, timing decisions and adaptation to unexpected changes. Despite these barriers, community mobility is a critical determinant of quality of life, offering opportunities for social inclusion, vocational engagement and personal autonomy. Interdisciplinary approaches that integrate individual skill development, environmental adaptations and policy interventions have emerged to support safer, more confident travel for autistic individuals across the lifespan.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Community Mobility for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in community mobility for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Community mobility: The ability to navigate and access various destinations in local and broader public environments for daily activities.

Independent mobility: Capacity to travel unassisted, relying on personal navigation skills and decision-making.

Sensory processing: The nervous system’s method of detecting, organising and responding to sensory input, which can influence comfort and attention in travel contexts.

Executive function: Cognitive processes—including planning, task switching and working memory—that underpin route planning and adaptation to changing travel conditions.

References

1. Mobility Policies and Extra-Small Projects for Improving Mobility of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sustainability (2018).
2. Preparing to “Live a Life of Possibilities”: Experiences of Healthcare Providers Readying Autistic Adolescents and Their Families for Independent Driving. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2024).
3. Promoting the independent mobility of young people with SEND: The lived experience of young people with autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Journal of Transport & Health (2022).