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. 2023 Jun;53(6):2535-2539.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05372-3. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Brief Report: Healthcare Providers' Discussions Regarding Transportation and Driving with Autistic and Non-autistic Patients

Emma B Sartin  1 , Rachel K Myers  2   3   4 , Christina G Labows  2 , Kristina B Metzger  2 , Meghan E Carey  2   5 , Benjamin E Yerys  6   7 , Catherine C McDonald  2   8   9   10 , Cynthia J Mollen  3   11 , Allison E Curry  2   3
Affiliations

Brief Report: Healthcare Providers' Discussions Regarding Transportation and Driving with Autistic and Non-autistic Patients

Emma B Sartin et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize healthcare and behavioral service providers' transportation-related discussions with their autistic and non-autistic patients.

Method: 78 providers completed a cross-sectional survey assessing their transportation discussions with patients. We used Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square tests to compare differences in provider reports by patient diagnosis.

Results: Compared with one in two providers who reported they discuss transportation with non-autistic patients, only one in five have these conversations with their autistic patients. Few (8%) providers felt prepared to assess driving readiness in autistic patients, yet only a quarter refer patients elsewhere.

Conclusion: There is a critical need to develop resources for use in medical settings to effectively support autistic adolescents' independence and mobility as they transition into adulthood.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Driving; Healthcare providers; Transportation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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