{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T14:07:28Z","timestamp":1791209248871,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791158400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":4,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To explore the perspectives of primary caregivers, healthcare professionals and transport personnel regarding the challenges associated with public transportation for children with autism spectrum disorder in India.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study applied a descriptive phenomenological qualitative design.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching centre in South India.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>21 participants comprising nine primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder, six healthcare professionals and six transport personnel were recruited using purposive maximum variability sampling.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants and audio-recorded for transcription. The transcripts were manually coded and analysed using Systematic Text Condensation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The results demonstrate that public transport is a complex social ecosystem comprising the child, caregivers, co-passengers and transport personnel. Healthcare professionals and policymakers, while not directly involved in travel, also influence the experience. Three major themes were identified: challenges associated with public transport, facilitators for better travel experiences and stakeholder recommendations for improving travel experiences.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study identified key barriers to accessing public transport for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Facilitators and potential strategies to address travel-related challenges are also discussed. These findings provide insights into stakeholder perspectives that may inform efforts to improve accessibility and travel experiences on public transport for children.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-114263","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T13:35:27Z","timestamp":1791207327000},"page":"e114263","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["\u2018Navigating the ride\u2019: stakeholder perspectives on public transportation challenges for children with autism in India"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Aksa Sara","family":"Biju","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Occupational Therapy Education & Services, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3026-7625","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joseph Thomas Raj","family":"Bedford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5132-6244","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Reema","family":"Samuel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.1","unstructured":"World Health Organisation (WHO) . ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available: https:\/\/icd.who.int\/browse\/2024-01\/mms\/en#437815624"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.17511\/ijpr.2019.i03.07","article-title":"Current consensus on clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of autism spectrum disorder in children: A brief review","volume":"6","author":"Panda","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Pediatr Res"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.53553\/JCH.v09i02.002","article-title":"Public Health Dimensions of Autism Spectrum Disorder in India: An Overview","volume":"9","author":"Tiwari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Comprehensive Health"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.4","unstructured":"International Association of Public Transport (UITP) . Boosting employment and accessibility: investing in India\u2019s public transport sector. Brussels: UITP; 2020. Available: https:\/\/www.uitp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/04\/India_policy_brief_2020_final_web_corrected.pdf"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.4103\/2249-4863.94458","article-title":"Disability and rehabilitation services in India: Issues and challenges","volume":"1","author":"Kumar","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Family Med Prim Care"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fresc.2023.1336514","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators of public transport use among people with disabilities: a scoping review","volume":"4","author":"Mwaka","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Rehabil Sci"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1219","DOI":"10.1177\/13623613221132106","article-title":"Autism-friendly public bus transport: A personal experience-based perspective","volume":"27","author":"Dirix","year":"2023","journal-title":"Autism"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1213","DOI":"10.1007\/s12098-011-0653-0","article-title":"Availing services for developmental disabilities: parental experiences from a referral centre in developing country","volume":"79","author":"Juneja","year":"2012","journal-title":"Indian J Pediatr"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1080\/17483107.2019.1646818","article-title":"Public transport planning tool for users on the autism spectrum: from concept to prototype","volume":"16","author":"Rezae","year":"2021","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5014\/ajot.2013.008250"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.11","unstructured":"Government of India . The rights of persons with disabilities act. New Delhi: Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department); 2016. Available: https:\/\/www.indiacode.nic.in\/bitstream\/123456789\/2156\/1\/A2016-49.pdf"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.12","unstructured":"United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) . Disability inclusion policy and strategy 2022\u20132030: a world fit for every child. UNICEF; 2022. Available: https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/media\/134031\/file\/UNICEF_Disability_and_Inclusion_Strategy_2022_2030_Short_Version.pdf"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1403494812465030"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1177\/160940690200100202","article-title":"Verification strategies for establishing reliability and validity in qualitative research","volume":"1","author":"Morse","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int J Qual Methods"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/104973202129120043"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chukwunonso O , Chukwuebuka O , Isioma S , et al . Self-stigma and vicarious stigma experienced by parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders living in rivers state, nigeria. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology 2024. doi:10.1101\/2024.10.31.24316480","DOI":"10.1101\/2024.10.31.24316480"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.1089\/aut.2022.0024","article-title":"\u201cIt Is a Big Spider Web of Things\u201d: Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults in Public Spaces","volume":"5","author":"MacLennan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Autism Adulthood"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"906","DOI":"10.5014\/ajot.2021.041749","article-title":"Parent experiences and perceptions of safety when transporting children with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"75","author":"Plummer","year":"2021","journal-title":"American Journal of Occupational Therapy"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.19","unstructured":"Government of India . Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). New Delhi: Government of India; 2016. Available: https:\/\/www.india.gov.in\/spotlight\/accessible-india-campaign#tab=tab-1"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1080\/17450128.2021.1910760","article-title":"Caregiver\u2019s perception of barriers to implementation of the \u201cRights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 in India\u201d","volume":"17","author":"Chauhan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vulnerable Child Youth Stud"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1177\/0253717621994706","article-title":"Barriers in accessing social welfare benefits for families of children with intellectual and developmental disorders in rural Karnataka: A situation analysis","volume":"43","author":"Reddy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Psychol Med"},{"key":"2026100506351496000_16.10.e114263.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.4103\/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_257_18","article-title":"Parental care-seeking pathway and challenges for autistic spectrum disorders children: A mixed method study from Bhubaneswar, Odisha","volume":"61","author":"Mahapatra","year":"2019","journal-title":"Indian J Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-114263","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T13:35:30Z","timestamp":1791207330000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-114263"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-114263"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-114263","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}}}