Change of Communication Strategy to Increase Engagement during the SARS-Cov-2Pandemic: The Experience of the European GEMMA Project in Italy

Scientific projects need solid communication plan. GEMMA is a multicenter EU-Horizon2020 project for biomedical research in autism requiring the enrollment of 600 infants at risk of developing autism in different countries. The Communication& Dissemination work-package had the early goal to create engagement among autism related stakeholders to maximize children recruitment also through social media and website. Because ofCOVID-19 lockdown, the recruitment has been temporarily suspended, as well as schools suspended face-to-face lessons opting for remote teaching. Since children with autism suffer discomfort with routine changes and need special distance education, GEMMA communication has turned toward a COVID-19ad-hoc strategy developing or selecting "technology and inclusion" webinars and "inclusive apps". These sustained children with autism, their parents and teachers in special distance education and entertainment. The results showed the success of specific inclusive tools and languages in scientific outreach activities and the possibility to maintain stakeholder engagement also in emergency situation.