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Despite common misconceptions that the lack of visible physical limitations ensures easy commutes, workers with intellectual disabilities frequently encounter cognitive and social barriers during daily travel. They often struggle with unexpected transit disruptions and experience anxiety in crowded environments. In South Korea, although transportation cost subsidies are provided for individuals with severe disabilities, these supports have limitations in addressing the specific commuting challenges faced by workers with intellectual disabilities.
According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) proposed by the World Health Organization (2001), disability arises from interactions between individuals’ functional characteristics and environmental factors. From this perspective, commuting difficulties can be understood as a mismatch between cognitive functioning and complex transportation systems. In addition, the stress process perspective developed by Leonard I. Pearlin conceptualizes commuting as a chronic stressor that extends beyond mobility and affects broader life domains. Repeated exposure to unpredictable and cognitively demanding commuting environments may generate fatigue and anxiety even before the workday begins, ultimately undermining concentration and contributing to employment instability.
This study examines how commuting experiences shape workplace functioning and explores how commuting-related burdens spill over into job performance and employment retention.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative multiple-case study design. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with eight employed workers with intellectual disabilities participating in a national commuting subsidy program administered by the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Interviews were conducted between October and November 2024. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, incorporating both within-case and cross-case comparisons to identify shared patterns and variations in participants’ experiences.
Results
Three key themes emerged. First, commuting was experienced as a cognitively and psychologically demanding process rather than merely a physical task. Participants reported difficulties navigating routes, managing unexpected disruptions, and coping with anxiety in crowded environments. Some described missing stops or experiencing injuries while using public transportation. Second, commuting functioned as a “hidden burden” that spilled over into workplace functioning. Many participants began their workday already fatigued, and repetitive tasks in sheltered workshop settings further intensified this strain. Over time, accumulated fatigue reduced concentration, increased errors, and hindered sustained work performance. Third, a mismatch between policy support and lived needs was identified. Although financial assistance for commuting costs was available, it did not adequately address cognitive navigation challenges, information accessibility, or safety concerns. Some participants were not fully aware of available support due to difficulties in understanding program information.
Conclusion and Implication
This study extends prior research on physical accessibility by conceptualizing commuting as a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by person–environment interactions and as a chronic stressor affecting workplace functioning. By identifying commuting as a “hidden labor burden” with spillover effects on job performance, the study highlights an overlooked mechanism influencing employment sustainability among workers with intellectual disabilities. The findings suggest the need to move beyond cost-centered policies toward integrated, needs-based interventions, including mobility training, accessible information systems, and individualized navigation support. Addressing commuting-related stress is essential for improving job retention and promoting sustainable employment.