Interview (Autistic Adult - Travel experience)

Participant: Female, 25–34

Question

What does independence mean to you?

Participant

“Have the time and finance to do what I want when I want.”

Reflection

This response frames independence around choice, freedom and control, rather than necessarily doing everything alone. This is useful for my project because it reminds me that independent travel may mean having the ability to make your own decisions and travel on your own terms, even if support is sometimes needed.

Question

Can you tell me about an international trip you have taken? Were there any parts of planning or travelling that you found particularly difficult?

Participant

“New passport/immigration steps implemented in Europe.”

Reflection

Changes to familiar processes appear to create difficulty. This connects strongly with my research around uncertainty, unfamiliar procedures and the need for clear advance information. It suggests that changes to travel rules or processes could be particularly important to communicate clearly before someone reaches the airport.

Question

Have any barriers affected your confidence, independence, or willingness to travel internationally?

Participant

“It’s always better to travel with someone in case problems arise and two brains are better than one.”

Reflection

This is particularly interesting because the participant values having another person available when something unexpected happens. It suggests that independence does not necessarily mean travelling completely alone. A companion can provide reassurance and help with problem-solving when plans change.

This makes me question whether a design intervention could provide some of that reassurance and back-up information, potentially reducing the amount someone has to rely on another person.

Question

What have been the biggest challenges you've experienced while travelling internationally?

Participant

“Navigating ill health while away.”

Reflection

This introduces a barrier I had not been focusing on as much. Problems do not only occur during airports or transport; becoming unwell while abroad can create additional uncertainty and require someone to find information or support in an unfamiliar place.

This suggests that my project should consider the whole travel experience, even if the final design eventually concentrates specifically on airports.

Question

If you could change one thing about international travel to make it better for autistic adults, what would it be and why?

Participant

“Simple steps to follow in every scenario.”

Reflection

This is one of the strongest responses for my project. The participant is asking for clear, simple and structured information rather than more information generally.

The phrase “every scenario” is also important. It suggests information may be particularly valuable when something unexpected happens, rather than only explaining the standard journey.

Question

What has helped make travelling easier or more enjoyable for you?

Participant

“Having every aspect of travel available to research online before and during travel.”

Reflection

Advance access to information appears to increase confidence and preparation. Importantly, the participant wants information available both before and during the journey.

This strongly supports exploring a digital resource that acts as a consistent source of information throughout different stages of travel, rather than something that is only used during initial planning.

Question

Imagine there were no limitations on cost or technology. If you could introduce one new service, system or support to improve independent international travel for autistic adults, what would it be and why?

Participant

“An auditory and written list of steps to follow before and during travel planning and similar during actually travelling.”

Reflection

This response is particularly relevant to my possible app direction. The participant independently suggests step-by-step information in more than one format, including both written and auditory guidance.

This could inform a design system where users can choose how information is communicated rather than being expected to process it in one fixed way.

It also reinforces the idea of supporting the traveller before and during travel, rather than creating a static airport guide.

Question

Which parts of the airport journey do you find most difficult, and what information or support would make them easier?

Participant

“Security can be very overwhelming.”

Reflection

This is particularly significant because airport security has already emerged as a possible area of focus within my project. This response provides my first piece of primary research directly identifying security as overwhelming.

However, the participant does not explain what specifically makes security overwhelming, so I cannot yet assume whether this relates to sensory input, queues, instructions, uncertainty, physical screening or another factor. This is something I should investigate further with other participants.

Question

Is there anything else you would like to share about your experiences of international travel?

Participant

“No.”

Reflection

There is nothing further to interpret from this response, but the earlier answers already provide several useful themes.

Overall Reflection

Although this is only my first interview response, several themes already connect closely with my existing research:

• Predictability and clear procedures
• Access to information before and during travel
• Simple step-by-step guidance
• Multiple ways of receiving information
• Support when unexpected problems occur
• Airport security as a potentially overwhelming stage
• Independence does not necessarily mean travelling alone

One particularly useful insight is the participant's repeated emphasis on having clear steps to follow. This appears in several separate answers without being directly prompted, which makes it something I should pay attention to as further responses come in.

At this stage, I should not treat these findings as representative of all autistic adults, but they give me useful themes to compare against my next interviews and my existing literature.