Hidden in plain sight: personal factors in autism and ADHD – a protocol for extending the ICF Core Sets for autism and ADHD

Autism and ADHD, two of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, are defined by challenges in daily functioning but are also associated with strengths and can vary substantially in their manifestation across individuals. Yet, diagnostic criteria alone fail to capture their full complexity, particularly on the individual level. A holistic understanding of functioning requires moving beyond defining clinical features to consider the interaction between individual functioning and contextual influences. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) provides a biopsychosocial framework where functioning is understood as the dynamic interplay between the individual's (dis)abilities and the contexts in which they occur. Previously, the ICF has been adapted for tailored use in autism and ADHD using Core Sets, but an important contextual component—personal factors—has been neglected. For a truly holistic understanding of autism and ADHD, including taking into account community perspectives, these personal factors cannot be disregarded. This protocol describes the multi-phase process that will be undertaken to identify and develop shortlists of personal factors most relevant to functioning in individuals diagnosed with autism and ADHD. These shortlists of personal factors will be added to the existing ICF CoreSets platform for autism and ADHD to support a more comprehensive and person-centered approach to autism and ADHD.