Defining what makes autism supports truly neurodiversity-affirming
Establishing Fidelity of Neurodiversity-Affirming Interventions
['FUNDING_R21'] · DREXEL UNIVERSITY · NIH-11292389
This project will create clear, community-grounded definitions and checklists so families and clinicians can recognize supports that respect autistic people's values.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DREXEL UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11292389 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You'll be invited to share your experiences as an autistic person, caregiver, or clinician through interviews and surveys so researchers can learn what matters most. The team will also review how providers describe and deliver services to identify common practices. They will draft and pilot straightforward criteria or checklists that mark when an intervention aligns with neurodiversity values and refine them with community feedback. The end result will be practical tools meant to help people choose services that match autistic priorities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants include autistic adults, caregivers of autistic children or adolescents, and clinicians who provide autism supports and who can describe what they want or see in services.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate clinical treatment or direct health improvements are unlikely to receive therapeutic benefit from this project because it focuses on defining and measuring service approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help families and providers find and promote services that avoid unwanted normalization and instead honor autistic people's goals and needs.
How similar studies have performed: Participatory research and community-defined measures have shown promise in related areas, but formal fidelity criteria for neurodiversity-affirming interventions remain a relatively new effort.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- DREXEL UNIVERSITY — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LERNER, MATTHEW DANIEL — DREXEL UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LERNER, MATTHEW DANIEL
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder