We also need to travel for social and recreational reasons, such as meeting up with friends or family, taking part in hobbies, day trips to interesting places, or going on holiday.
If the destination is too far to walk or cycle, some people can drive or get a lift off a family member or friend. There are other options too such as bus, train or taxi. In some areas it’s even possible to take a tram, hire a bike or an e-scooter.
Autistic people are generally known to thrive on predictability and routine – and some also for being fascinated with details and working parts of systems and machines. That’s why some autistic people might have a particular interest in vehicles and transport systems – and find the process of travelling exciting and rewarding. However, even autistic travel enthusiasts are likely to face challenges on journeys, resulting in stress, overwhelm or even meltdown or shutdown. This may also have a negative knock-on-effect on the rest of the day.
Choosing a transport option depends on what’s available, plus costs and timetables. For most autistic people additional factors need to be considered, such as their individual sensory and social needs – and how to manage not knowing what to expect.
This article discusses general challenges autistic people can face when travelling – and suggests ideas of what can help. It also considers this in relation to some of the most common travel options.
Whilst it’s written to advise autistic people, if you support an autistic person of any age, you can also use this information to help make travel and transport easier for them.
Travel challenges for autistic people
Unpredictability and unfamiliarity
Many autistic people thrive on predictability and familiarity. This gives a sense of safety and comfort in a world that is otherwise often stressful and unsettling. Travelling to new places is inevitably unpredictable and unfamiliar. Bus and train stations can be hectic, confusing and cause sensory overwhelm. We cannot be sure what to expect on the journey or at our destination.
These unknown factors can cause many worries for autistic people. For example, they might wonder if they could encounter a stressful sensory or social experience or if they might get lost or experience meltdown or shutdown in a public place.
What can help
- Plan your journey in advance as well as you can
- Use timetables, maps, apps
- Ask for help from a friend or family member
- Write down your itinerary to help you remember
- If you need to arrive at your destination by a particular time, allow some extra time for unexpected hitches– and so you do not have to rush.
- This is especially helpful, if you have to take more than one bus or train
- Factor in a ‘Plan B’ (contingency plan) – for what to do if things don’t go as expected. e.g.
- Have an agreement to call a friend or family member to help problem-solve
- Be prepared to ask for help from a member of staff or at an ‘Information’ or ‘Assistance’ desk (if travelling by public transport)
- If you find that travelling makes you feel very tired afterwards, consider having rest time in the day or so before your journey – and factor in recovery time if you can
- Consider contacting the travel company, bus-station, train station or airport in advance – to ask how they can meet your accessibility needs. Some have ‘Assistance’ desks or teams – and might be able to offer 1:1 in person support.
- Plan and pack what you need to bring, in advance. Include:
- Travel tickets
- Itinerary list
- Money, phone, charger
- A drink and snack
- Sensory soothing items (see Sensory Challenges, below)
- Clothes/objects to protect against changing weather/temperatures, e.g. sunglasses, waterproof coat, warm layers, sunhat, suncream, hand held fan
- Consider wearing a sunflower lanyard and/or showing an ‘I am autistic card’ to show that you have a hidden disability
- Travel with a friend or family member who can keep you company and offer support during the journey
- If it’s not possible for them to come for the whole journey, perhaps someone could accompany you to the station on your outward journey and someone could meet you at your destination
- Consider practising/familiarising yourself in advance, e.g.
- Use Google Maps Street View to get a virtual view of what your journey might look like
- Use the train station Virtual Tours
- Visit the train or bus station before the day of your journey, to make sure you know which platform or stop you will need
- Talk through possible scenarios and conversations with a friend or family member. Consider doing a role-play to rehearse what you might do or say, if e.g.
- You were not sure which platform you needed
- You lost your ticket
- There was someone sitting in your pre-booked seat
Sensory challenges
The processing of sensory information in the environment is something that can be challenging for autistic people when travelling. Whilst each of them will have individual sensitivities and needs, common difficulties include:
- Being startled by loud sudden noises, or overwhelmed by ongoing noises e.g. the screeching of train wheels or pneumatic bus brakes, slamming of doors, repetitive beats from someone’s headphones
- Finding certain smells intolerable e.g. other people’s deodorant, perfume or body odour; food aromas or vehicle fumes
- Light sensitivity e.g. bright sunlight, bright and /or flickering artificial lights, reflection of lights off surfaces – such as windows or floors, ‘strobing’ effect of light when travelling quickly past intermittent objects
- Finding certain textures and other touch sensations difficult to tolerate e.g. the feel of the seat fabric or safety rail; sitting or standing in close proximity to other people
- Being in close proximity to other people
- Sudden changes in sensory experiences e.g. going through a railway tunnel; embarking an air-conditioned bus into a hot city
- Feeling the need to stim and finding it difficult to stay still for prolonged periods
- Keeping in tune with interoception e.g. recognising when you need to eat or drink; or that you need to add or take off a layer of clothing to keep you comfortable
What can help
- Know your own sensory sensitivities and what helps
- Make yourself a sensory travel pack to meet your personal needs. Include, e.g.
- Sunglasses or visor
- headphones or earplugs,
- pleasant smelling items – such as a fragranced scarf, a small spray bottle or roll-on balm containing diluted essential oil. Be sure to check for possible allergies before using
- fidget toy
- Something to chew, e.g. sweets or gum
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- Consider which seat to choose to maximise personal space
- You may prefer to be near a door or away from the toilet.
- There may be an option of a solo seat
- You may find that if you sit near the back of the vehicle, at quieter times you are more likely to avoid another person sitting next to you.
- Remember that if you choose a tip down seat, you will need to move if a person with a wheelchair or pram needs the space
Social challenges
Travelling often means encountering other people, especially when using public transport. Autistic people can find this difficult, for a number of reasons. For example, they may struggle to understand communication, such as signage or announcements. They may find it difficult to be sure of what is socially expected, such as where to queue or sit, how to interact with staff or other passengers. Stressful past social experiences can lead to social anxiety and self-consciousness. This can make it difficult to focus on navigating the essential stages of the journey and more difficult for an autistic person to ask for help.
What can help
- Ask for support from staff and/or at an ‘Information’ or ‘Assistance’ desk. They should be able to help you with things like being sure to get on the right train, finding a seat where you feel comfortable or how to find your booked seat
- Carry communication cards to help you communicate with travel staff. East Midlands Railway have worked with Communication Access UK to create downloadable/printable cards. Click this link to find a downloadable card.
- Book or choose a seat in a location that is most likely to give you personal space (see above Sensory challenges – What can help)
- Travel at off-peak times when buses and trains are less likely to be crowded
- Be aware that at weekends and some evenings there may be sporting fixtures or other events causing buses and trains to be more crowded than usual.
- If routes are close to secondary school and colleges, they may be over crowed at start and finish times
- Consider wearing a sunflower lanyard to show that you have a hidden disability. Click this link to see an article on sunflower lanyards.
- Carry a card explaining your difficulties and needs – including your communication needs.
- Take something to occupy yourself, so it’s easier to avoid unwanted conversations from strangers – for example play a game on your phone or read a book
- Some people find having a bag on their lap can help them feel more secure and comfortable
- Call a friend or family member to distract you and/or to give you encouragement and reassurance.
