Angela Shierk, Nancy Clegg, Daralyn Fulton, Lindsay Miles, Vanessa Hunt, Mauricio R Delgado, Janet Prvu Bettger, Heather Roberts
{"title":"Occupation-Based Collaborator Engagement in Research: Developing a Cerebral Palsy Task Force.","authors":"Angela Shierk, Nancy Clegg, Daralyn Fulton, Lindsay Miles, Vanessa Hunt, Mauricio R Delgado, Janet Prvu Bettger, Heather Roberts","doi":"10.1177/15394492251367249","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251367249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engaging community collaborators in research is crucial for enhancing health care outcomes, especially for cerebral palsy (CP). However, effective multi-collaborator involvement poses challenges. This study used an occupation-based approach to engage community collaborators in developing a CP Task Force to initiate patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research and evaluated member perspectives on roles and experiences. A repeated cross-sectional design was employed, with 18 CP Task Force members completing 39 surveys. Engagement activities focused on social participation, leisure, play, education, and work. Surveys assessed team culture, trust, and role satisfaction. Descriptive statistics analyzed survey data, while thematic analysis summarized qualitative responses. Participants reported high satisfaction and engagement. Key themes included inclusivity, effective communication, accessibility, and expanded engagement. Occupation-based engagement can enhance collaboration, build rapport, and create a shared sense of purpose among multi-collaborators when establishing a CP Task Force to support patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"256-264"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145182345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lived Experience Engagement in Service Design and Improvement: Investigating Meaning and Impact.","authors":"Yuk Ying Sophia Wong, Carolynne White, Aislinn Lalor, Katie Larsen, Ellie Fossey","doi":"10.1177/15394492251396021","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251396021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Involving people with lived experience is important to mental health service design, development, and research. This study explored the personal meaning and impact of participating in lived experience opportunities for consumers and carers. Six semi-structured interviews with consumer and carer volunteers at an Australian community mental health service were analyzed through an interpretative phenomenological lens. A steering group, formed by staff with lived expertise, guided the research. Five themes were identified: \"Transforming negative experiences into positive contributions,\" \"Self-growth through lived experience participation,\" \"Connections and support through lived experience participation,\" \"Considerations for supporting consumers and carers in a team,\" and \"Considerations for setting up voluntary lived experience participation roles.\" Lived experience engagement is meaningful to consumers and carers. Creating safe-enough environments that support participation in decision-making requires valuing diverse opinions, having supportive facilitators, acknowledging demands of sharing lived experiences, and paid remuneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"283-291"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12988003/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145745186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amber M Angell, Daníella C Floríndez, Marshae D Franklin, Elinor E Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica M Cogger, Melanie Guzman, Alexis R Rodriguez
{"title":"\"Stigma,\" Survival, and Intergenerational Cultural Influences: Latina Autistic Contributions Through Community-Engaged Research.","authors":"Amber M Angell, Daníella C Floríndez, Marshae D Franklin, Elinor E Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica M Cogger, Melanie Guzman, Alexis R Rodriguez","doi":"10.1177/15394492251395704","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251395704","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amid calls for inclusion of autistic people in research, we present findings from our community-engaged study on the experiences of families of autistic girls, who experience disparities in autism identification, and show how the Autistic Lived Experience Collaborators (ALEC) in the Disparity Reduction and Equity in Autism Services (DREAmS) Lab influenced our findings. In Part 1 of our multimethod study, 21 caregivers completed interviews and survey questions. In Part 2, 10 Hispanic/Latino caregivers from Part 1 completed 1 to 3 interviews. Analysis used descriptive statistics and a narrative thematic approach. We also drew from analysis meeting notes. Girls from Spanish-speaking families had later ages of autism identification, which informed our qualitative themes: <i>Survival Explains Stigma</i>, a view of Hispanic/Latino culture that clarified the \"stigma\" that impacted the diagnostic process; and <i>Intergenerational Influences</i> on staying safe, which could include masking autistic traits. ALEC quotes show their contributions. Our community-engaged approach contributed to our findings and a more complex view of culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"213-221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12988010/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145745171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine R Hoyt, Hunter G Moore, Maya Caldwell, Jessica Kersey, Rosemary Britts, Kelly M Harris, Sonya Burnett, Courtney Watza, Allison A King
{"title":"Strengthening Community-Academic Partnerships to Enhance Care for Sickle Cell Disease.","authors":"Catherine R Hoyt, Hunter G Moore, Maya Caldwell, Jessica Kersey, Rosemary Britts, Kelly M Harris, Sonya Burnett, Courtney Watza, Allison A King","doi":"10.1177/15394492251388020","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251388020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 Americans, predominantly those of African descent, yet care coordination between academic medical centers and community organizations remains limited. To identify strategies for strengthening community-academic partnerships to enhance care delivery for children with SCD through focus groups with community partners in a midwestern metropolitan area. Using qualitative descriptive methodology, we conducted two focus groups and three individual interviews with 12 community partners, including health care providers and advocates. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings: persistent multi-level knowledge gaps about SCD, the importance of strategic partnerships between health care organizations and community groups, and specific community-identified solutions for sustainable collaboration. Results highlighted how structured partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations can address systemic barriers in SCD care delivery through knowledge sharing, resource access, and coordinated screening protocols, informing practical strategies for implementing sustainable improvements in care coordination.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"193-202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13088172/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145641036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John Damiao, Galilee Damiao, Jonathan Polanco, Maudey Lockwood, Jake Quinn
{"title":"Ethnographic Perspectives of Unreliable, Minimal and Non-Speaking Autism Associated With Apraxia.","authors":"John Damiao, Galilee Damiao, Jonathan Polanco, Maudey Lockwood, Jake Quinn","doi":"10.1177/15394492251397894","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251397894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals with unreliable, minimal, or non-speaking autism face significant challenges in expressing themselves. Historically, these communication difficulties have been attributed to cognitive deficits, however, emerging research suggests that apraxia, may be a primary barrier to effective communication. This study aims to explore the role of apraxia affecting speech, and how society views and supports communication. This auto-ethnographic study is informed by the lived experiences of three minimally speaking autistic individuals, highlighting the disconnect between cognitive capacity and expressive speech. The analysis resulted in the following themes: (a) <i>apraxia as a global motor impairment</i> and (b) <i>disconnecting apraxia from intellectual function</i>. This research underscores the need for adaptive communication strategies and inclusive policies that recognize intelligence and cognitive capabilities beyond verbal outputs. A shift toward understanding the impact of apraxia on communication within this population will foster more equitable access to education, health care, and social participation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"265-272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12988006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helena Roennfeldt, Victoria Stewart, Marianne Wyder, Teresa Fawcett, Caroline Robertson, Rebecca Soole, Dan Siskind, Amanda Wheeler, Justin Chapman
{"title":"Scoping Review of Co-Design in Mental Health Research: Essential Elements and Recommendations.","authors":"Helena Roennfeldt, Victoria Stewart, Marianne Wyder, Teresa Fawcett, Caroline Robertson, Rebecca Soole, Dan Siskind, Amanda Wheeler, Justin Chapman","doi":"10.1177/15394492251367259","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251367259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Co-design is increasingly being adopted within mental health service design and delivery, but is less common in research. Co-design ensures that research is relevant and benefits people accessing services. This review examined frameworks, models, and/or guidelines for co-designing mental health research, asking: (a) How is co-design defined? (b) What are the elements, values, and design tools? (c) What recommendations are proposed? A scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature on co-design in mental health research was undertaken and narratively synthesized. A total of 28 studies were included, showing varied understandings of co-design. Key values included social justice, recognizing lived experience as expertise, and fostering safe and trusting relationships. Traditional academic structures often hinder co-design; however, innovative research methods have shown potential. Recommendations and strategies to overcome barriers are provided. To enhance the adoption of co-design in mental health research, clearer terminology and agreed-upon values and processes are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"311-323"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12987994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145024446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Susan Magasi, Jessica Kramer, Teal Benevides, Joy Hammel, Roger Ideishi, Khalilah R Johnson, Mathew McCollough, Kristie K Patten, Timothy A Reistetter, Beth Ziebarth
{"title":"The Inaugural Engage Summit: Proceedings and Call to Action.","authors":"Susan Magasi, Jessica Kramer, Teal Benevides, Joy Hammel, Roger Ideishi, Khalilah R Johnson, Mathew McCollough, Kristie K Patten, Timothy A Reistetter, Beth Ziebarth","doi":"10.1177/15394492251385489","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251385489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Community-engaged research intentionally engages communities and people with lived experience as equal partners in the research process from project ideation through dissemination. The American Occupational Therapy Foundation sponsored a 2-day Engage Summit in October of 2024 to: showcase the depth and breadth of high-quality community-engaged research within occupational therapy, identify and evaluate systematic approaches to community-engaged methodologies to elevate occupational therapy-informed community-engaged scholarship, including evaluation, measurement, and dissemination, and build capacity among people with lived experience to actively engage in community-engaged research as full and equal partners. The event culminated in a World Café, a participatory process wherein attendees identified priorities for community-engaged research to guide the profession. The purpose of this paper is to provide a high-level overview of the proceedings, showcase the results from the World Café, and issue a call to action for continued development and institutional support of community-engaged research within occupational therapy and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"173-182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145649535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Teal W Benevides, Hoangmai H Pham, May-Lynn Andresen, Madelyn R Bahr, Tim Corey, Joanne Nicholson, Kristen Faughnan, Jennifer E Jaremski, Carolyn Langer, Vincent Siasoco, Alexis Hernandez-Hons, Stephen M Shore
{"title":"Engagement to Identify Health Priorities of People With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability.","authors":"Teal W Benevides, Hoangmai H Pham, May-Lynn Andresen, Madelyn R Bahr, Tim Corey, Joanne Nicholson, Kristen Faughnan, Jennifer E Jaremski, Carolyn Langer, Vincent Siasoco, Alexis Hernandez-Hons, Stephen M Shore","doi":"10.1177/15394492251385448","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251385448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People with lived experiences are often excluded from development of solutions and decision-making related to health research and policy. To describe and demonstrate how high-quality engagement supports partner and project outcomes. The ultimate project outcome was to identify health priorities desired by people with intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD) and the people who support achieving those priorities, including caregivers, clinicians, and payers/regulators. This capacity-building project implemented and evaluated methods of engagement of IDD self-advocates, caregivers/partners, clinicians, payers/regulators, and researchers. Our reliance on a variety of engagement approaches, but particularly graphic illustration and other visual engagement, yielded productive conversations to advance areas of priority. Partners felt satisfied with engagement and continued to participate at multiple points throughout the 2-year project. We identified nine illustrated priority health outcomes useful for research, practice, and policy change. Our engagement and priority-setting approach resulted in findings that partners found compelling personally and professionally.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"222-230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12988008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145453559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Miranda R Donnelly, Stacy Sanchez, Emily Marks, Stuti Chakraborty, David Karchem, John Margetis, Sook-Lei Liew
{"title":"A Community Advisory Board Model to Strengthen Community-Academic Partnerships in Stroke Research.","authors":"Miranda R Donnelly, Stacy Sanchez, Emily Marks, Stuti Chakraborty, David Karchem, John Margetis, Sook-Lei Liew","doi":"10.1177/15394492251388016","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251388016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Community advisory boards (CABs) can improve the relevance and impact of research. CABs often guide timebound research projects or inform strategy at large institutions. By contrast, we developed a CAB for collaborative neurorehabilitation research as an arm of a research laboratory. Community members (e.g., stroke survivors, care partners, therapists) engage in research and community initiatives around a shared vision. Existing CAB literature and implementation resources primarily describe project and institutional CABs, with less evidence of alternative CAB models. Therefore, this article describes the development of an ongoing CAB partnership and the evaluation of community member engagement over time. Two years after establishing the NPNL Stroke Advisory Board, we describe the Board's activities, evaluation process, and early successes and challenges with the intention of promoting transparency of community-engaged approaches and empower similar partnerships to form.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"183-192"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145543017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinyu Wu, Anna Gray, Janet Paleo, Madison Dziuk, Jennifer Ruiz-Sandoval, Laura Pavitt
{"title":"Promoting Employment Participation for People With Mental Health Challenges: Photovoice and Advocacy.","authors":"Chinyu Wu, Anna Gray, Janet Paleo, Madison Dziuk, Jennifer Ruiz-Sandoval, Laura Pavitt","doi":"10.1177/15394492251388031","DOIUrl":"10.1177/15394492251388031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People with mental health issues are three times more likely to be unemployed. The purpose of this community-engaged research project was to address an issue brought up by our community partner that people with mental health challenges were restricted from participating in employment. A photovoice study was conducted to answer the research question: what facilitating factors and hindering factors of employment were encountered by people with mental health challenges? Seven participants recruited by our community partner completed three rounds of photo assignments and group meetings. Study findings revealed that mental health conditions presented challenges in finding, acquiring, and retaining employment, and that self-management strategies and a safe work environment were critical to facilitate employment participation. A community advisory group was informed about the study findings. We then hosted photovoice exhibit events to increase awareness about the employment issue for community people. Recommendations for conducting community-engaged research are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":47195,"journal":{"name":"Otjr-Occupation Participation and Health","volume":" ","pages":"292-301"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12988007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}