Adapting services for autism: Recommendations from a specialist multidisciplinary perspective using freelisting

Abstract The guidance available for tailoring mental health services autistic people is limited and dispersed. Practitioners attempting to appropriately adapt healthcare therapy provision report low confidence inconsistency in their approach. This study contributes the by providing a shortlist of usable priority adaptations diagnostic as described multidisciplinary staff members responsible design delivery specialist autism service UK. Individual freelisting interviews were conducted with 15 staff, who asked list ways that they practice individually, within therapy, collectively service. Salience cultural consensus analyses demonstrated following agreed adaptations: ensuring suitability environment consideration sensory demands, adapting communication, knowing individual gender identity preferences minimising client uncertainty. Detailed examples are given flexibly needs inform general services. findings require replication evaluation.