Occupational Therapy Community Mobility Skills Checklist for Individuals with Autism (CMSC-ASD)
Objective: This tool examines an individual’s functional skills and abilities in relation to the demands required by different transportation types, excluding driving, to assist in identifying transportation options that support and/or increase safe and effective community mobility for individuals with ASD. The checklist can be completed by the Individual and/or Parent or Occupational Therapist.
Section I: Completed by Individual and/or Parent. Please indicate which of these transportation options are available in the community and if used or tried.
OptionsPublic (City) BusCoach (Intercity Bus)Train/Subway Trolley/TramTaxiE-hailing (Uber, Lyft)FerryWalkBicycle/ScooterOther
Available
Tried
Use
Section II: Please indicate the individual's type of personal mobility device(s) used.
Functional Skills and Abilities: Is the individual able to: Ex. = ExampleSkill LevelComments
1. Ambulate independently, including steps/stairs or locate/operate elevator (physical)
2. Physical maneuvering within the environment (physical)
3. Get in and out of a vehicle safely (physical & cognitive)
4. Initiate use and secure own seatbelt (physical & cognitive)
5. Operate door openings (Ex: car door handles, rail door buttons). (physical & cognitive)
6. Tolerates motion of vehicles (sensory)
7. Scan the environment for safety cues (Ex: opening the vehicle door, others getting off the bus) (cognitive)
8. Recognize and follow signage with no verbal cues (ex: driver wave, vehicles signal lights (cognitive)
9. Cross a street with traffic signals and pedestrian controls (physical/cognitive)
10. Cross a street without pedestrian controls (with/without traffic signals) (physical/cognitive)
11. Follow social etiquette for community mobility (Ex: no feet on seats, does not intrude on other passengers’ space)
12. Sit or stand without disruptive behavior during the trip (behavior).
13. Tolerate rides in unfamiliar vehicles and/or with unfamiliar driver(s) (behavior)
14. Tolerate nearness of unknown fellow passengers (behavior)
15. Refrain from intruding on other passenger’s space (behavior)
16. Hail a bus, taxi on roadway. (cognitive/communication)
17. Communicate needs effectively with a driver; knowing when and if appropriate. (Ex: when getting on a bus; not while driving) (behavior/communication)
18. Maintain attention to anticipate correct destination/stop (cognitive)
19. Plan a trip considering time to and from destination (cognitive)
20. Know, recognize, and communicate location (pickup and destination) (cognitive/communication)
21. Communicate identification information and/or phone number (cognitive/communication)
22. Read and decipher a schedule (cognitive)
23. Navigate/wayfinding with a schematic, map or GPS (start point, within transport center, destination) (cognitive)
24. Manage money/money card/fare card to pay for and register travel (cognitive)
25. Recognize and respond appropriately to one's current level of energy or pain
26. Use a cellphone/mobile phone for requesting and managing service (cognitive/communication)
27. Problem solve when a common problem occurs with transportation (Ex: cancellation or delay) (cognitive)
28. Recover from feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious if a problem occurs in order to continue the travel (behavior)