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Abstract

Background
Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD individuals are often excluded from healthcare/radiography research due to inaccessible methodologies and systemic biases, perpetuating well-documented health inequalities. While researchers can recognise this, they may be unequipped to address it effectively. This narrative review introduces the A3ReAcH (Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD Research Accessibility in Healthcare) framework, which provides practical guidance for designing and conducting accessible, inclusive and participatory research.

Method
Two searches of peer-reviewed studies (2019–2024) were conducted using Emcare, MEDLINE, Social Policy and Practice, CINAHL, the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The key themes were identified, and a framework was synthesised that aligns with different stages of the research lifecycle (planning to dissemination).

Results
The searches retrieved 86 articles: 54 methodological and 32 original research. Key themes are presented as a 12-item framework. The A3ReAcH framework outlines practical strategies such as diversifying research teams, ensuring equitable power-sharing, prioritising participatory methods, and adapting research designs to neurodivergent needs. It also emphasises the importance of accessible recruitment, fair compensation, and inclusive dissemination. Additionally, it highlights the role of intersectionality in shaping neurodivergent experiences and provides recommendations to reduce systemic barriers in research.

Conclusion
All healthcare/radiography research should include and respect neurodivergent experiences. The A3ReAcH framework empowers researchers to produce more equitable and actionable research by including neurodivergent voices and dismantling barriers to participation. By integrating these principles, healthcare/radiography researchers can improve the participant experience, enhance data quality, and drive systemic change in healthcare/radiography research, moving towards findings that genuinely represent the diversity of the population.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2025.102009
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Midwifery & Radiography School of Health & Medical Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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