Enhancing MRI accessibility through community engagement for autistic young adults

The present study, a community-engaged research initiative, was specifically designed to enhance MRI accessibility and optimize the overall experience for autistic Latino young adults. Crucially, we employed a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of the target community were central to every stage of inquiry. Insights were gathered from Community Scientist meetings and 18 autistic Latino young adults (ages 18-25) through focus groups with nine MRI-naïve individuals and individual interviews with a separate cohort of nine individuals who had prior MRI experience. Transcripts from these sessions underwent thematic analysis to identify key patterns related to MRI barriers and facilitators. Participants voiced initial apprehension and the challenging sensory experience of MRI noise as a primary barrier. To counter this, participants overwhelmingly desired enhanced preparation and information, specifically emphasizing the value of mock scanner simulations and readily available, in-depth explanations delivered in culturally and linguistically accessible language. A robust theme was the profound importance of human connection and unwavering support from both research staff and family members. A key motivational factor identified was the strong desire for personalized results and feedback from their MRI scans. While monetary compensation was acknowledged as a clear and effective incentive, altruism and genuine scientific curiosity also significantly drove participation. Practical suggestions for improvement included enhancing physical comfort within the scanner, providing better visual aids, and proactively addressing common logistical barriers such as transportation to the facility. This CBPR-driven research provides actionable insights to design more comfortable, transparent, and culturally responsive MRI protocols, thereby fostering greater participation of autistic adults.