I’m really pleased to share that my abstract from the 19th World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Congress in Bangkok (9–12 February 2026) will be published later this year in Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional / Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
WFOT Congress is a global meeting point for the occupational therapy profession, bringing thousands of delegates together for shared learning, research, and practice exchange.
Having the opportunity to present this work internationally — and to see it selected for publication as part of a WFOT Congress abstracts collection — is a real honour.
Read my previous blog about attending the Congress -From Fife to Bangkok: Grateful for Fife Health Charity & NHS Fife support
About the Journal
Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional / Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy is the continuation of Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar (printed ISSN 0104-4931; electronic ISSN 2238-2860), which began in 1990. Since volume 25(2) in 2017, it has been published under the title Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
The journal is dedicated to disseminating unpublished work from original scientific research in Occupational Therapy, in dialogue with the fields of Health, Education, Culture and Social Service, as well as Occupational Science. It emphasises studies addressing physical, sensory, mental, psychological and/or social issues connected to daily life and human doing, linked to participation, autonomy and the inclusion of individuals and collectives in social life. The journal accepts papers written in English, Spanish or Portuguese and is aimed at researchers, professors, students and practitioners in occupational therapy and related fields in Brazil and internationally.
Abstract title:
Making AHP Services Inclusive for Autistic Adults: Translating National Resources into Local Practice through Co-Creation with NHS Staff
Project website:
I created a website to showcase details of the project - click here!
What this project is about:
In Scotland, national policy has increasingly recognised the need to improve access to effective, inclusive mental health supports for autistic people. Yet even when strong national resources exist, “making it real” at local service level can be the hardest part.
This project explored how a national resource — the Autism Informed Services eBook (2024), co-produced with autistic adults — can be translated into local AHP practice in a way that is practical, sustainable, and owned by the workforce.
Ursulla Duff (NHS Lothian) & I - Callum MacKinnon (NHS Fife) - facilitated the joint project together, as part of their independently funded NHS Education for Scotland funded AHP Careers Fellowship.
Our aim:
We wanted to understand the real-world barriers and opportunities that influence whether national guidance is adopted, adapted, or unintentionally ignored in local systems — and to identify the factors that can either support or hinder inclusive change for autistic adults.
How we did it:
We used a co-creation methodology, meaning we designed and refined solutions with stakeholders rather than simply “consulting” them. Across NHS contexts in Fife and Lothian, we ran focus groups and used creative tools (including Envision Cards) to surface what helps neuroaffirming practice flourish, and what gets in the way.
What we found:
The themes emerging from both areas strongly reflected the eBook’s key messages. In Fife, co-creators identified clear assets, barriers, and opportunities — and prioritised the top reflections to shape what implementation should look like locally. In Lothian, 87% of staff reported changes to their clinical practice after learning about neuroaffirming methods.
Why it matters:
The most encouraging takeaway is that neuroaffirming improvements don’t necessarily require additional cost — but they do require shared language, permission to adapt, and structures that make inclusive practice easier to do consistently.
This work offers a replicable model for teams across the NHS and beyond: using creativity and co-creation to bridge the gap between national resources and local reality, improving accessibility and reducing health inequalities for autistic adults.
Acknowledgements:
I’m grateful to everyone who co-created this work and contributed their experience and insight. I’m also thankful for the practical support that made international dissemination possible, including support connected to the Elizabeth Casson Trust, NHS Fife and Fife Health Charity
