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Transportation Barriers to Vision Care for the Visually Impaired

File Language:
English


Details

  • Creators:
  • Corporate Creators:
    University of Nebraska. Mid-America Transportation Center
  • Corporate Contributors:
  • Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Publication/ Report Number:
    25-1121-3002-401
  • Resource Type:
    Tech Report
  • Geographical Coverage:
    United States
  • Edition:
    October 2023–December 2025
  • Corporate Publisher:
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mid-America Transportation Center
  • Abstract:
    Transportation barriers significantly hinder healthcare access for individuals with disabilities, particularly in rural areas. This study examines these challenges in Nebraska and Kansas, focusing on individuals with visual impairments who require specialized low-vision care. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative interviews with low-vision patients, caregivers, and clinicians alongside aspatial and spatial analyses to identify and characterize transportation barriers to vision care and areas with high unmet demand for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with patients and caregivers receiving low vision rehabilitation services at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation, as well as with clinicians providing low vision care in the region. These interviews explored transportation challenges, coping strategies, and the impact of mobility constraints on healthcare access. The quantitative component utilized data from the 2022 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) and the 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze sociodemographic factors associated with travel-limiting disabilities. Areas with latent demand for NEMT were identified by combining a Disability Index—developed using NHTS data to measure the prevalence of travel limiting conditions—with ACS Disability Status data and driving time calculations to healthcare facilities. Census tracts with both a high prevalence of disability and significant travel times to healthcare services were classified as having unmet NEMT demand. Findings highlight the significant reliance on informal transportation networks, limited access to public and specialized transportation services, and the burden of long-distance travel for rural patients. Clinicians confirm that these barriers contribute to missed appointments and worsened health outcomes. The study recommends expanding NEMT services, improving coordination between healthcare and transportation providers, and enhancing community awareness of available mobility resources to promote equitable healthcare access for individuals who are blind or have low vision in underserved areas.
  • Format:
    PDF
  • Funding:
    69A3552348307
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:55cc7014ee05911d3222f98c570ec6907f82612e03cd8656744b8ef32e6d92d75da0dc4e07a37d80ea3d12c0ef875af645274707301ee3cdf11d21d4f2f43513
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 2.05 MB ]
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