The Journey to Work of Young Adults with Mobility Disability: a Qualitative Study on the Digital Technologies That Support Mobility

Mobility is essential in navigating familiar and unfamiliar environments. People with disability may experience vulnerability in navigating the external environment, when mobility is hindered by discomfort, commodification, or disorientation. Independent commute, choice, and control can be enhanced with appropriate aids, technology, and infrastructure. Self-determination can also be seen to enhance mobility through the realisation of strengths and limitations of the individual and the opportunity to act with self-regulation, in a way that responds to events in an empowered way. Utilising a critical incident technique, this qualitative study examines the enabling and disabling factors that impact self-determination of young adults with mobility disability in the context of their journey to work and explores the role digital technologies can play in this journey. Key findings related to the importance of mobility planning, transport options and communication in the journey to work are discussed. The importance of digital technologies is highlighted including the proposed features of digital enabling platforms. Mobility is part of the journey to work experience that involves physical commute as well as the activities involved in planning and getting ready before commuting.Routine journeys take less planning and preparation than new journeys to work.For young adults with mobility disability, the journey to work is enhanced through mobility planning, transport option, policies and standards and communication.Self-determination of young adults with mobility disability can be enabled or disabled by a range of factors that significantly influence the journey to work experience.Digital technologies aid in supporting the planning and the commute experience for people with mobility disability.