From Barriers to Belonging: Societal Perceptions, Transport Accessibility, and the role of Travel Buddies:Understanding the social processes of Travel Buddies, peer-to-peer travel support for people with learning disabilities

Abstract

People with learning disabilities remain socially excluded from many aspects of life, with one quarter spending less than one hour per day outside their home. Societal stigma and limited transportation options are key barriers to inclusion, with many people relying on taxis, family, or friends to attend appointments and activities. These arrangements can be costly, unsustainable, and further reinforce dependency. They also fail to challenge public perceptions, often segregating people with learning disabilities from the wider community, thus contributing to their invisibility. Travel Buddies are people with learning disabilities and/or autism, employed to support others with learning disabilities to travel. While peer support has been explored within mental health and recovery contexts, little is known about the social processes and the added value of peer support in travel contexts for people with learning disabilities. This study aimed to explore the social processes involved in peer-to-peer travel support within the context of learning disabilities. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used, alongside ethnographic methods within one inner-city Travel Buddies service in the UK. Data collection took place through nine semi-structured interviews with eight Travel Buddies and their manager, as well as five observations and audio recordings of travel journeys involving four Travel Buddies and clients. Findings revealed that Travel Buddies adopt five key roles when supporting clients: ‘care professional’, ‘advocate’, ‘protector’, ‘companion’, and ‘teacher’, often shaped by their own lived experiences, adding value to this role. The findings suggest that peer-led models offer a valuable and inclusive approach to travel support, with implications for the peer-supporter, client, service, and society