Limitations in using paratransit and their influence on the participation and well-being of people with disabilities

Background: Using transportation has an influence on the participation in daily activities of people with disabilities and contributes to health and well-being (Rosso et al., 2013). Paratransit is crucial when public transport is inaccessible or limited. Paratransit use is limited by factors like missing coordination among regions, unclear cost coverages, and responsibilities (Egger et al., 2022). We hypothesize that these limitations in using paratransit negatively impact the participation in daily activities and, consequently health and well-being of people with disabilities. Objectives: To investigate whether limitations in using paratransit negatively influence people’s satisfaction with participation in daily activities. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey with data from 536 participants was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: High paratransit costs, limited choice of paratransit providers and infrequent use of paratransit had a statistically significant influence on dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities (Egger et al., 2023). Conclusion: Paratransit improvements can positively impact satisfaction with participation in daily activities and in turn, the well-being of people with disabilities. Occupational therapists should assist clients in finding and using suitable transportation for their desired activities outside the home.