(In)Accessibility of urban public transport and transport exclusion in Poland: Perspective of parents of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

BACKGROUND: This study focused on public transport accessibility as experienced by the parents of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. METHOD: Research material consisted of unfocused, partially-structured interviews concerning the personal experiences of parents of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities; 20 parents of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities participated in the study. The analytical method relied on open and axial coding performed by means of grounded theory methodology procedures. RESULTS: The study revealed two main themes: the first related to disruptions in the daily use of urban public transport; the second provided an assessment of the impact of public transport's (in)availability on the family. CONCLUSION: The study showed that everyday mobility for families caring for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities was influenced by a variety of constraints that these families sought to negotiate and overcome.