Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults
NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
About This Grant
Autistic adults universally face communication difficulties, yet no multi-dimensional measure of communication has been specifically validated in this population. The absence of such a measure is a barrier to advancing our understanding of communication strengths and challenges in autism – and how they may predict outcomes such as employment, health, and relationships. The objective of the current application is to develop and validate a comprehensive communication measure for autistic adults, using COSMIN standards for measure design. The project will use an iterative, mixed-methods, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, leveraging the PI’s existing team of autistic community partners as co-researchers in all study phases. The rationale for this approach is that research on marginalized populations should be conducted collaboratively with those affected, to ensure ethical, impactful, and scientifically sound processes and outcomes. The measure developed through this study, the C-SCAN (Communication Strengths, Challenges, and Nuances), will be grounded in both the established experimental literature on communication differences in autism, and the emerging literature on autistic adults’ internal experiences of communication. The C-SCAN will generate profiles of communication abilities and challenges, and will be designed for maximum accessibility to ensure valid data from the target population. Critically, the C-SCAN will be inclusive of the entire autism spectrum, accomplished by creating two versions: one for autistic adults to complete as a self-report measure (Aim 1), and one for proxy reporters (i.e., support people who will report on behalf of autistic adults who cannot complete the measure, even with support; Aim 2). Both instruments will be created through five rounds of a CBPR-Nested Delphi process involving (1) autistic adults or proxy reporters, as appropriate to the instrument version, (2) communication scientists, and (3) other professionals, such as clinicians, attorneys, employers, or direct support personnel. The research team, in collaboration with community partners, will draft instructions, response options, and item formatting based on best practices in accessible instrument design. For each instrument, we will test and refine content validity through an iterative series of cognitive interviews with a diverse sample of autistic adults and support people. Successful completion of the proposed project will result in two distinct versions of a multi-dimensional, community-driven measure of communication skills and experiences tailored for use by autistic adults. This contribution lays the groundwork for validating and disseminating a first-of-its-kind measure of a core feature of autism (communication differences) with robust links to outcomes, addressing community interests and needs. This innovative approach to instrument development in communication disorders research is expected to advance communication measurement, accelerating large-scale autism phenotyping research, outcomes research, and intervention planning.
Grant Summary
Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults is a NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders grant providing up to $595K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2031-02-28 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $595K
2031-02-28
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults from NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders before the deadline.
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Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults?
Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults is offered by NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults provide?
Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults provides up to $595K per award from NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults deadline?
Applications for Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults are due 2031-02-28 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults?
To apply for Creating a community-partnered measure of broad communication skills in autistic adults, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.