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Disparities Among African Americans With Autism by W.R. Brown

Autism is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder now affecting 1 in 166 children at an early age, and is expected to last a lifetime. Autism can often be diagnosed in children as young as 18 months old, and affects every race, ethnic group and socioeconomic status.
A child with autism will show different behaviors than typical developing children. Parents become concerned that their child may lack eye contact, be deaf, is not yet talking, resists cuddling, needs repetitive routines, and avoids interacting with others.
These behaviors may begin shortly after birth or develop as a child grows older.
Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Mental retardation is commonly associated with autism. Epilepsy may also develop in some cases.

Healthcare, African Americans and autism
There are clear racial disparities in healthcare and special education, parents and caregivers must help arrest to ensure a brighter future for our children.
Studies have consistently reported negative biases toward minorities in the areas of diagnosis and treatment.
Black autistic children were diagnosed later, received more misdiagnoses than Whites, and were more likely to be misdiagnosed as having organic psychoses, mental retardation, or selective mutism.
Clinicians may interpret autism symptoms differently in children of different races.
African Americans are less likely than Whites to see the same doctor over time. A pediatrician who treats a child over time may recognize autism sooner than others may.
The probability of having a second child with autism is 1 in 20.
All children with autism are eligible for state services, behavior treatments and enrollment in a classroom geared toward their condition.

Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.

A recent national study found:

The length of time from concerns to early intervention for children with developmental disabilities is much longer than the 5.2 months national average. Children with developmental disabilities on average enter the early intervention system at age 20 months, much later than other children.

Parents of children with developmental delays had more difficulty than parents of children with established conditions or children at risk.

Minority families and families with lower incomes or limited education had more difficulty entering the early intervention system.

Some families were not aware of a written plan for goals and services.

National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to SRI International and FPG Child Development Institute

Early diagnosis and early intervention (www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/early-intervention.html) is critical for a better prognosis.
Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.

Special Education, African Americans and autism
Minority children with disabilities all too often experience inadequate services, low-quality curriculum and instruction, unnecessary isolation from their nondisabled peers and hardship.
African American students are about twice as likely as White students to be educated in a restrictive, and separate educational setting. Minority disabled students also have much higher rates of school disciplinary action.

African American adults with disabilities
Among high school students with disabilities, about 75% of African-Americans are not employed two years out of school.
Three to five years out of school, the arrest rate for African-Americans with disabilities is 40%. Minority disabled students also have much higher rates of placement in correctional facilities.
Excerpts from Racial Inequity in Special Education, 2002, Daniel J. Losen & Gary Orfield, Editors, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

What can we do to help overturn these disparities?
We can start this process today by taking six powerful steps to overturn these disparities and help African Americans with autism reach their full potential.
We can start this process today by taking six powerful steps to overturn these disparities and help African Americans with autism reach their full potential.
Be persistent! Parents and caregivers must be persistent and get their child's healthcare providers to listen and act in response to your concerns.
Know your child's rights! Learn about the federal special education laws and state regulations that exist to ensure your child with a disability receives an Individualized Education Plan and related services they can benefit from.
Seek help! There are advocacy groups and educational advocates accessible to help you get a "free and appropriate public education" that every child with autism is legally entitled to. Access any needed supports and services provided by your state.
Join a national autism organization. There is power in numbers. Our voices can and will be heard within a powerful group message.
Get involved! Attend local parent support groups to learn what issues are important to persons with autism and their families, and what steps are necessary to address them. Start networking with other parents.
Take action! Write or call on local and congressional lawmakers to report your issues and concerns. Make them alert to how autism affects your child and family.

Autism is not hopeless, and parents are not helpless.
We can learn about important issues, advocate for our loved ones and cause immediate reform and better outcomes for all persons with autism.

Resources
Click here for practical ways to help, plan and manage daily living with autism.
Autism Society of America provides advocacy, information and support. The information referral hotline is 1 (800) 3-AUTISM.
National Autism Association offers information on the most current research, and helps fund critical research to find the cause of autism.
Autism Research Institute and DAN!, the Neuro-Immune Dysfunction Syndromes Research Institute or NIDS and the Pfeiffer Treatment Center provide treatment options, each with their own protocols.
Learn more about autism-related issues and take political action with the parent-led organization, A-CHAMP.
The book Covenant With Black America, outlines ways to address challenging issues facing African-Amercans today, like health and education.

© Copyright 2006. Publication is permitted as long as the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and the links are live (clickable). Please email a link to your site where the article is posted on the contact form at http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/contact.html.
About the Author

W.R. Brown is wife, mother of four children, grandmother, volunteer, presenter at parent support groups, member of local autism support groups, national autism organizations, former legal assistant, and service coordinator, served as Board member to non-profit organizations, autism Advisory Groups, and appeared on Cable 6 TV, XM Radio One, Tavis Smiley Radio, CNN Radio and WDIG.

Disparities Among African Americans With Autism by W.R. Brown

About the Author