Abstract
The Self-Perception and Environmental Engagement Questionnaire was developed to address the need for self-report questionnaires to examine the occupational engagement and social interaction of neurodivergent adults in community-based programs.
Primary Author and Speaker: Elsie Hurtado Pollari
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kurt Haas, Bryan Nee, Emily Oseman, Julia Staiano, Mattea Sykes, Leanne Blanca Villa
The Self-Perception and Environmental Engagement Questionnaire (SPEEQ) is a self-report questionnaire guided by the PEOP model. SPEEQ was developed for neurodiverse adults in community-based programs (CBP) to self-report perceptions of social participation, community engagement, and self-efficacy, in response to the limited self-report questionnaires available for this population (Shogren et al, 2021). The SPEEQ is a Participatory Action Research study that surveyed a convenience sample of Chicagoland CBP leaders, neurodivergent adults, and content experts in Occupational and Speech Therapy. The SPEEQ was modeled after established self-report measures that use proxies or have IQ requirements, but implemented recommended guidelines and adaptations for inclusive self-reporting (Koojimans et al, 2022; Nicolaidis et al, 2020), resulting in a 39-item questionnaire, including screener. Content validity was obtained from 6 content specialists, ensuring the SPEEQ accurately and adequately addresses the targeted themes in an understandable way for the participants. The SPEEQ was then administered to 27 neurodiverse adults, with face validity measured by having participants answer 6 questions for feedback after completion. Content and face validity was established for the SPEEQ, confirming it as a useful tool for neurodivergent adults to express their self-perceptions regarding social participation, community engagement, and self-efficacy. Data analysis also showed that the SPEEQ screener questions appropriately filtered for item comprehension, resulting in 75% of responses being valid representations of participant opinion. Most neurodiverse adults in the CBP tested can self-report their opinions and preferences using the SPEEQ, which may influence meaningful occupational engagement in CBP. The SPEEQ is a useful tool to be utilized by OTs and CBP serving neurodiverse adults, by providing occupational autonomy and promoting self-expression.
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