Mind the Gap: Aligning Autism Research with Community Priorities and Community Experiences in Australia and New Zealand (2019–2025)

This desktop study systematically reviewed the literature and outputs from consultations to provide a picture of the gaps between the research data, funding and evidence of community experiences, and gaps in evidence translation to practice, including for underrepresented intersectional groups.

The findings from this project have the potential to inform initial considerations by the NAS Reference Group, related Working Groups and the Commonwealth in prioritising actions related to research and evidence-based policy and practice. They can be used to inform research organisations, funding bodies and government, as well as sector capacity-building investment activities.

This project also looked at a process for the ongoing review of gaps and priorities, taking account of processes for gap analysis and prioritisation used in the literature reviewed. 

The second element to this work was the development of a co-designed suite of simple information resources for professionals. These infographics focus on implementing evidence-based inclusive practices in day-to-day operations in the area of employment, health, and disability and community services.