New Brunswick, N.J. (Jan. 22, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick expert Cecilia Feeley is available for interviews on transportation and mobility issues for people on the autism spectrum.

Feeley, transportation autism project manager at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), can discuss the Autonomous Vehicles project. The ongoing research effort explores the potential positive impacts and challenges that autonomous vehicle (AV) transportation, such as self-driving cars, could have on people with autism.

A summit at Princeton University last spring presented AV technology to people with disabilities so they could share their experiences with university researchers for analysis and discussions with policymakers, vehicle manufacturers and others. An ongoing study is intended to help the AV industry design their vehicles to meet the transportation needs of people with disabilities.

Feeley can also discuss a pedestrian infrastructure project using a controlled virtual environment to examine road-crossing behavior in adults with autism.

“Research is still needed to understand the barriers to transportation and mobility of persons on the autism spectrum,” Feeley said. “Part of the disability is the difficulty in verbally expressing the obstacles and barriers, so we are taking a more methodical and scientific approach in documenting them so we can develop innovative solutions to increase independence.”

Feeley is the appointed chair of the New Jersey Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Mobility and Support Services Task Force.

For an interview with Professor Feeley, please contact Todd Bates at [email protected].
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Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Neal Buccino at [email protected]

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