Beyond Consultation: A Scoping Review of Guidance for Organisations Practicing Inclusive Research and Co‐Production With People With Cognitive Disability in the Australian Context

ABSTRACT

Participatory approaches such as inclusive research and co‐production are recognised as best practice in disability research and service design. These approaches promote inclusion and improve the relevance, quality, and impact of research and services. However, organisations outside academia often lack practical guidance to implement these methods effectively. This scoping review examined Australian‐authored guidance for non‐academic organisations on inclusive research and co‐production with people with cognitive disability, including its target audience, content, and development process. The JBI methodology for scoping reviews was followed with an a priori protocol. Thirty‐one sources met the inclusion criteria. Guidance varied in scope and detail, and positioned people with cognitive disability as participants or collaborators . Principles such as accessibility and shared power were common, but actionable steps for implementation were limited. Barriers and enablers to practice included funding, time, organisational capability and collaborative partnership approaches. Involvement of people with cognitive disability in creating guidance ranged from consultation to co‐authorship, and accessible formats were scarce. Findings highlight the need for coherent, practical, and co‐produced guidance to support organisations in embedding inclusive practices. Future research should explore how existing guidance is applied in organisational settings, evaluate its usefulness, and generate evidence to inform the co‐development of subsequent guidance.