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

A study found that doctors and therapists are much less likely to talk about driving and transportation with autistic patients compared to non-autistic patients. Only 1 in 5 providers discuss these topics with autistic patients, while 1 in 2 do with non-autistic patients. Most providers don't feel prepared to help autistic teens figure out if they're ready to drive, and few refer families to specialists who can help.

This 2023 cross-sectional survey examined transportation and driving discussions between healthcare providers and their patients. Among 78 participating providers, significant disparities emerged in transportation-related conversations based on patient diagnosis. While 50% of providers discussed transportation with non-autistic patients, only 20% had these conversations with autistic patients. Most providers (92%) reported feeling unprepared to assess driving readiness in autistic patients, yet only 25% referred these patients to appropriate specialists.

The study highlights a critical gap in healthcare support for autistic adolescents transitioning to adulthood, particularly regarding independence and mobility planning. The findings suggest an urgent need for specialized resources and training to help medical professionals better support autistic patients' transportation needs and driving readiness assessment.

Healthcare providers need targeted training and resources to address transportation and driving readiness with autistic patients. Development of standardized assessment tools and referral pathways could improve transition planning. Current practice gaps may limit autistic adolescents' preparation for adult independence and community participation.

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Sample size of 78 providers may limit generalizability. Provider self-report may introduce bias. No information provided about provider types, geographic distribution, or patient demographics that might influence transportation discussions.

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

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.