Today we’ve launched new research with the Motability Foundation, which reveals the barriers that mentally and/or physically disabled people face when travelling, with 43% of disabled people overall telling us they “often” experience challenges when travelling.*
A young woman at a train station. Our report found that neurodivergent young people were the most likely to avoid journeys.
Travel was regularly disrupted due to disability-related challenges, particularly for neurodivergent respondents. Young people with disabilities - particularly those who are neurodivergent (ND) - report a high frequency of challenges when travelling. Neurodivergent young people were the most likely to avoid or cancel journeys, and to report both internal challenges (like anxiety or sensory overload) and external barriers (like overcrowding and unclear information). They were also more likely to use specific coping strategies (e.g. advance planning, headphones) and identified more areas for improvement across the transport system.
In our analysis of nearly half a million Shout text conversations with 187,000 texters who identified as having an illness or condition (see the report for the full list), anxiety around travelling was a main reason that many disabled people find it difficult, with some texters mentioning that they experience distress due to specific, and often irrational fears related to travelling.
These included fears of accidents and death, which heightened their reluctance to use certain modes of transportation. Others struggled with agoraphobia; which is a fear of leaving home, being in crowded spaces, or using enclosed forms of transport like trains and aeroplanes. Additionally, some texters mentioned emetophobia; an intense fear of vomiting while travelling, which contributed to their avoidance of trips, especially those involving long journeys or unfamiliar environments. The emotional toll of these fears was often severe, impacting texters’ ability to engage in daily activities, travel to work, or visit loved ones.
“I think for myself personally, the main issue is anxiety with travelling alone and the fear of being judged for bringing accommodating tools to cope such as ear defenders, small items to fidget with, etc.” - Disabled survey respondent
How we’re supporting disabled people with travel
We know that disabled people are more likely to experience mental health issues, as they encounter barriers to everyday activities, and are more likely to feel isolated and experience feelings of loneliness as a result.
With funding from the Motability Foundation, we have conducted real-time research into what the barriers disabled people faced when travelling might be, in order to inform recommendations on the changes and requirements needed, and support people when travelling, particularly through the use of our Shout text service.
Six months later, we launched a keyword for the campaign, encouraging disabled people to text the word ‘TRAVEL’ to 85258 for anyone who needed support when travelling. We ran a marketing campaign to promote the keyword so it could be used by those who would benefit from the service. This included a paid ad campaign on Facebook, posting across MHI’s social media channels and websites and sharing the campaign with relevant communities such as Enhance the UK, Childhood Tumour Trust and Kent and Medway CAMHS, who then shared it with their audiences.
The campaign was also shared by three influencers with lived experience of disability, Mollie Pearce, Molly Brooks-Dridge and Shona Louise. During the campaign, across all platforms, we had an audience of approximately 350,000 people.
Next steps with the Motability Foundation
We’re proud to be funded by the Motability Foundation to support more disabled people with the mental health challenges they face when travelling, but we know there is more to do. This report shines a spotlight on some of the key issues disabled people are dealing with and the repercussions those are having on their mental health. Through our text service Shout, we’re continuing to provide round-the-clock support for disabled people to reach out to, because no one should face their problems alone.
*Research from a survey of 262 disabled/non disabled individuals with 82% of respondents identifying as as having a disability or long-term condition, with many having more than one type of difficulty.
