Community engagement and knowledge translation: progress and challenge in autism research.

Elsabbagh et al. (2014) looked at how autism research reaches real-world services. They wrote a narrative review, not a new experiment. They focused on community engagement tools like priority-setting workshops.

The authors argued these tools can close the gap between lab findings and families who need help.

The review says structured engagement works. When researchers run workshops with parents, teachers, and clinicians, they learn what questions matter most.

Those questions then guide future studies, so results are more likely to be used.

Cohrs et al. (2017) extends this idea. They say bring stakeholders in even earlier, at the basic-science planning stage, not just before implementation.

Wong et al. (2022) show it in action. They asked families to nominate innovative autism programs across the US and found fifteen that already use co-design.

Bustos et al. (2021) tested engagement in everyday clinics. Community EIBI teams rated implementation strategies and gave feedback that shaped scale-up.

Wetherby et al. (2018) add proof of payoff. Online parent coaching based on community input improved toddler social communication within three months.

You can copy the workshop tactic now. Invite two parents, a teacher, and an OT to your next team meeting. Ask, 'What skill would help your child most this month?' Write the top three answers on the whiteboard. Shape your next goals around those priorities and track if caregivers use the strategies at home. One hour of structured listening can save months of low-value programming.