The role of family-centered care in research: Supporting the social communication of children with autism spectrum disorder

Families and their children with special healthcare needs require effective interventions to address children's needs in the context of daily family interactions. This article offers a unique perspective to understanding the role of family-centered care. It extends beyond expected practice in service delivery to the role of families in the implementation of intervention research, specifically when collaborating with families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Two intervention studies are described involving children with autism spectrum disorder and their families and the application of principles of family-centered care. Elements of family-centered care demonstrated in the intervention research are summarized. Finally, specific challenges are described associated with conducting family-centered intervention research and suggestions are offered to clinical researchers to inform future research endeavors.