The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, part of the Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s Neurological Institute; was recently awarded a 2-year Eugene Washington PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) engagement award of $238,676 for “Rethinking Stakeholders Roles in ASC Interventions: Moving from Participants to Engaged Collaborators”.
Multiple types of early intervention for children with autism are available; however, there is often a mismatch between the interventions and outcomes studied in research and the values described by stakeholders like autistic adults, caregivers, and clinicians. To help address this gap, this project will work to develop a sustainable model that puts stakeholders at the center of early autism intervention research. Over the course of two years, we will engage 10 adults with autism, 10 parents of children with autism, and 10 clinicians to form 6 local stakeholder teams—three in Columbus, OH and three in Chicago, IL. These stakeholders will work together to create an early intervention research agenda and a model for how stakeholders can consult most effectively with early intervention research teams. During the second year of the project, we will use online surveys and phone interviews with national stakeholders and researchers to refine the research agenda and consultation model. Finalized materials will be disseminated broadly across stakeholder communities, and stakeholder teams will be available for consultation to research groups following project completion.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and collaborate with these groups of stakeholders during the next two years. I truly believe that together we can help shape future early intervention research to make it as valuable as possible for the people it is meant to serve—individuals with autism and their families.”
Katherine Walton, PhD
Nisonger Center Early Learning Program Director
Assistant Professor of Psychology & Psychiatry