Are we leaving some people behind? Travel autonomy, perceived accessibility, and well-being among people experiencing mental and physical difficulties

•An integrated framework with travel autonomy at its center is empirically tested.•Capabilities, independence, freedom and possibilities are elements of travel autonomy.•Although distinct, it relates to perceived accessibility, happiness, and life satisfaction.•Mental illness plays an important role in how people rate their travel autonomy.•Travel autonomy and perceived accessibility are important mechanisms to target.