Researchers in The Sheffield Autism Research Lab (ShARL) at the University of Sheffield are embarking on a new project with underserved autistic adults to transform health and social care systems through creativity and collaboration.
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the project, titled "Participatory Systems Mapping with Underserved Autistic Adults: Co-Designing Health and Social Care Solutions Through Creative Arts," seeks to find effective ways to involve underserved autistic adults in research, with the goal of improving health and social care services.
Psychology researchers will use a participatory systems mapping approach, collaborating with a steering committee made up of underserved autistic adults and community partners to co-design and lead the workshops. These workshops will be held in economically disadvantaged communities across Sheffield, using creative arts and other interactive methods to map out the current health and social care systems. This process will make it easier for participants to express their thoughts and experiences, while the creative techniques will allow them to share their perspectives in more accessible ways.
Following the evaluation of the workshops, the team will produce recommendations for inclusive engagement with underserved Autistic adults. It will also provide systems maps reflecting the priorities of underserved Autistic adults to improve health and social care.
The project has been developed in partnership with Disability Sheffield’s Sheffield Voices, a self-advocacy organisation for Autistic adults.
We're looking forward to learning from those in traditionally marginalised communities to understand what good healthcare means to them and what their priorities are.
Professor Megan Freeth
School of Psychology