Measuring what matters: Operationalizing neurodiversity‐affirming practices through participatory design of STEM workshops for autistic youth

Kilgallon, E., O’Brien, S., Grossman, E., Gravelle, C. D., Dwyer, P., Obeid, R., Arista, A., Suárez, J., Arif, A., Cordova‐Castellanos, G., Santos, J. D., Kofner, B., Yan, A., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2026). Measuring what matters: Operationalizing neurodiversity‐affirming practices through participatory design of STEM workshops for autistic youth. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.70140

Publication date: 1 Jul 2026 Added to AutiHub: 30 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
14
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 14 (14.3%)

Abstract

Abstract Limited research has examined how neurodiversity‐affirming approaches are (1) co‐created with autistic people, (2) operationalized, (3) implemented, (4) assessed and (5) iterated. Across a 3‐year program of research, we co‐developed and iterated game design and employment workshops for and with autistic youth. After encountering difficulties enacting authentically neurodiversity‐affirming approaches during the Year 2 workshop, we developed neurodiversity‐affirming principles that guided hiring, training, curriculum development and student and staff advocacy opportunities in Year 3 workshops. We assessed fidelity to these principles. This paper examines if these changes were associated with increases in: 1) neurodiversity‐affirming staff practices and (2) student engagement with workshop content. Masked coders analysed the following data sources from Years 2 and 3: (1) video recordings of staff teaching practices, (2) pre‐ and post‐workshop staff surveys and (3) students' ratings of engagement with workshop activities. Staff used neurodiversity‐affirming practices more frequently after the aforementioned changes. Student‐reported engagement did not differ across years and was generally high. However, in Year 3 only, student engagement improved within workshops following intentionally advocacy‐oriented student feedback loops. Findings show that redefining fidelity as a flexible, values‐driven process offers a model for inclusive program design that fosters socially valid, responsive learning environments.

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
68
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
13 / 68 (19.1%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
30 / 229 (13.1%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 30 / 110 (27.3%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 18 / 193 (9.3%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
110 / 229 (48.0%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 75 / 193 (38.9%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
80 / 110 (72.7%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 80 / 229 (34.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 57 / 75 (76.0%).
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