The suitability and acceptability of a co-designed prototype psychoeducational activity book for autistic children aged five-eleven years

Powell, L., Wheeler, G., Redford, C., & Stott, J. (2024). The suitability and acceptability of a co-designed prototype psychoeducational activity book for autistic children aged five-eleven years. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 9, 23969415241234648-23969415241234648. https://doi.org/10.1177/23969415241234648

Publication date: 1 Jan 2024 Added to AutiHub: 9 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)

Abstract

Background and aims Evidence suggests that autistic children and young people (CAYP) can benefit from age-appropriate psychoeducation. Co-design is a methodology that iteratively involves end users and stakeholders in producing an intervention which may increase engagement and impact. Few age-appropriate co-designed psychoeducation resources for autistic CAYP exist. Therefore, a paper-based resource was co-designed for autistic CAYP who attend mainstream primary education. The resource aims to educate CAYP about their autism and provide strategies to support them to live well with their autism. Methods This paper describes the evaluation of the prototype resource through online workshops with 12 families and input from four specialist clinicians. The suitability and acceptability of the resource was explored, and sketch notes were taken for respondent validity and engagement purposes. Results A reflexive thematic analysis identified six themes and two subthemes: (1) content appropriateness (subtheme: strategies and unpredictability); (2) relating to content, (3) feelings and emotions, (4) terminology (subtheme: literal thinking); (5) positivity, and (6) communication aid. Suggested improvements were also identified. Results suggest the resource is suitable and acceptable. Conclusions Future intervention development research may consider individual differences of autistic CAYP and the co-design of resources for other age groups of neurodiverse populations.

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Cited references
73
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
3 / 73 (4.1%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
3 / 271 (1.1%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 3 / 44 (6.8%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 251 (0.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
44 / 271 (16.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 36 / 251 (14.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
41 / 44 (93.2%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 41 / 271 (15.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 35 / 36 (97.2%).
1 cited bibliography entry could not be fully enriched from DOI metadata.
Crossref: not found (1)
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