Banksy wall mural of Harriet Tubman reaching out... picture touched by a 3-year-old girl.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Children of Color with Autism
with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
In updating this BLOG, my current research found that, unfortunately, healthcare disparities and inequities still exist in certain sociodemographic populations.
More updating....
Chikezie-Darron, O., Sakai, J., et al. (2025) caution that there have been disparities in autism diagnosis for children of color, within military families. They state that the Military Health System (MHS), although not well-established, data seems to show that early autism diagnosis is known to be deficient. Especially, for non-white, and for female children covered by the military insurance, Tricare.
< My Thoughts > “…early autism diagnosis…”
Military parents may opt to seek an autism assessment for their child by a civilian clinician taking their military insurance. Autism may be diagnosed by any qualified medical expert, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist. Other professionals who may be qualified to conduct autism assessments can include developmental pediatricians, speech-language pathologists, and/or occupational therapists.
Parents may also want to look into getting referrals from daycare, preschool, and/or public school professionals. And, after diagnosis, they may find themselves referred to an ‘intervention’ program provided off-base.
Most military branches say that adults applying to join the military will be selected on a case-by-case basis and must pass the same tests as other recruits.
Williams, J. (2010) wants us to know that when mainstream America catches a cold, communities of color catch pneumonia. This applies particularly when it comes to autism and other developmental disorders. Children of color are more often misdiagnosed or not properly treated for these disorders than their 'White' counterparts.
"My son was diagnosed when he was 2 years old. I'm connected to mainstream media, but I had never seen people of color with autism. That was when I saw a need for autism information in our community," she said.
Burkett, K., Morris, E., et al. (2015) believe that cultural factors such as 'limited health care access' impacts timely diagnosis and treatment for African American children with autism. This health care disparity delay is said to be 1.6 years behind that of a Caucasian child's diagnosis. And, is more likely to first be diagnosed as an intellectual disability, rather than an autism diagnosis.
Children of color are more often misdiagnosed, compared to other children. Also, certain cultural differences may distort the interpretation of the family’s reporting of their child’s symptoms. And, may confuse the severity of the diagnosis, and create a diagnostic bias.
Historically, inequities in healthcare persist in many disenfranchised communities. Other healthcare disparities may include whether or not families become immobilized when getting the ‘autism’ diagnosis. While most parents of newly diagnosed children search online for information and direction, many families of color do not have internet access.
Kremien, M., Travers, J., et al. (2017) know that maladaptive behaviors such as verbal and physical aggression of school age African American children will be dealt with by suspending them from class. Suspension will happen before the school system would begin identifying them with a developmental disability such as autism. Disciplinary suspension of children does not improve the outcome, in fact this disciplinary action may become especially harmful for children with autism or intellectual disabilities.
< My Thoughts > “…verbal and physical aggression...’’
Verbal and physical aggression in school age children from any culture is often a ‘response’ to unidentified ‘learning disabilities’, sensory issues’, and/or autism. In most cases, the child doesn’t want to 'give you' a bad time – the child 'is having' a bad time!
Aylward, B., Gal-Szabo, D., et al. (2021) found that although the prevalence of ASD does not differ across racial and ethnic groups, the average age of diagnosis for Black children was over 5 years old.
Also, it seems that healthcare providers for families of color tend to take a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude when it comes to diagnosing children for ASD services. Then, families often are placed on up to 12 month waiting lists to see a specialist. And for parents of color relying on Medicaid provisions, the wait can be even longer.
Note: Writing, using, and quoting the necessary semantics such as – children of color, Black, White, African American, Caucasian, 'other', etc. – has always been uncomfortable for me. Now I can add to that list, children with autism, autistic, atypical, neuro-typical, etc.
REFERENCES
Aylward, B., Gal-Szabo, D., et al. (2021). Racial, Ethnic, & Sociodemographic Disparities in Diagnosis of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Vol. 9:42 pgs. 682-689.
Burkett, K., Morris, E., et al. (2015). African American Families on Autism Diagnosis & Treatment: The Influence of Culture; Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders; V45, p3244-3254.
Chikezie-Darron, O., Sakai, J., et al. (2025). Analysis of Disparities in Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Military Health System Pediatrics Population. Retrieved online from – Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders; Vol. 1-7.
Kremien, M., Travers, J., et al. (2017). Suspension Rates of Students with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities in Maryland from 2004-2015; Journal of Intellectual Disability Research; V61:11, p1011-1020.
Williams, J. (2010). Autism Hits Hard In Communities of Color; New York Amsterdam News; V101:18, p29.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Children of Color with Autism
with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
In updating this BLOG, my current research found that, unfortunately, healthcare disparities and inequities still exist in certain sociodemographic populations.
More updating....
Chikezie-Darron, O., Sakai, J., et al. (2025) caution that there have been disparities in autism diagnosis for children of color, within military families. They state that the Military Health System (MHS), although not well-established, data seems to show that early autism diagnosis is known to be deficient. Especially, for non-white, and for female children covered by the military insurance, Tricare.
< My Thoughts > “…early autism diagnosis…”
Military parents may opt to seek an autism assessment for their child by a civilian clinician taking their military insurance. Autism may be diagnosed by any qualified medical expert, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist. Other professionals who may be qualified to conduct autism assessments can include developmental pediatricians, speech-language pathologists, and/or occupational therapists.
Parents may also want to look into getting referrals from daycare, preschool, and/or public school professionals. And, after diagnosis, they may find themselves referred to an ‘intervention’ program provided off-base.
Most military branches say that adults applying to join the military will be selected on a case-by-case basis and must pass the same tests as other recruits.
Williams, J. (2010) wants us to know that when mainstream America catches a cold, communities of color catch pneumonia. This applies particularly when it comes to autism and other developmental disorders. Children of color are more often misdiagnosed or not properly treated for these disorders than their 'White' counterparts.
"My son was diagnosed when he was 2 years old. I'm connected to mainstream media, but I had never seen people of color with autism. That was when I saw a need for autism information in our community," she said.
Burkett, K., Morris, E., et al. (2015) believe that cultural factors such as 'limited health care access' impacts timely diagnosis and treatment for African American children with autism. This health care disparity delay is said to be 1.6 years behind that of a Caucasian child's diagnosis. And, is more likely to first be diagnosed as an intellectual disability, rather than an autism diagnosis.
Children of color are more often misdiagnosed, compared to other children. Also, certain cultural differences may distort the interpretation of the family’s reporting of their child’s symptoms. And, may confuse the severity of the diagnosis, and create a diagnostic bias.
Historically, inequities in healthcare persist in many disenfranchised communities. Other healthcare disparities may include whether or not families become immobilized when getting the ‘autism’ diagnosis. While most parents of newly diagnosed children search online for information and direction, many families of color do not have internet access.
Kremien, M., Travers, J., et al. (2017) know that maladaptive behaviors such as verbal and physical aggression of school age African American children will be dealt with by suspending them from class. Suspension will happen before the school system would begin identifying them with a developmental disability such as autism. Disciplinary suspension of children does not improve the outcome, in fact this disciplinary action may become especially harmful for children with autism or intellectual disabilities.
< My Thoughts > “…verbal and physical aggression...’’
Verbal and physical aggression in school age children from any culture is often a ‘response’ to unidentified ‘learning disabilities’, sensory issues’, and/or autism. In most cases, the child doesn’t want to 'give you' a bad time – the child 'is having' a bad time!
Aylward, B., Gal-Szabo, D., et al. (2021) found that although the prevalence of ASD does not differ across racial and ethnic groups, the average age of diagnosis for Black children was over 5 years old.
Also, it seems that healthcare providers for families of color tend to take a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude when it comes to diagnosing children for ASD services. Then, families often are placed on up to 12 month waiting lists to see a specialist. And for parents of color relying on Medicaid provisions, the wait can be even longer.
Note: Writing, using, and quoting the necessary semantics such as – children of color, Black, White, African American, Caucasian, 'other', etc. – has always been uncomfortable for me. Now I can add to that list, children with autism, autistic, atypical, neuro-typical, etc.
REFERENCES
Aylward, B., Gal-Szabo, D., et al. (2021). Racial, Ethnic, & Sociodemographic Disparities in Diagnosis of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Vol. 9:42 pgs. 682-689.
Burkett, K., Morris, E., et al. (2015). African American Families on Autism Diagnosis & Treatment: The Influence of Culture; Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders; V45, p3244-3254.
Chikezie-Darron, O., Sakai, J., et al. (2025). Analysis of Disparities in Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Military Health System Pediatrics Population. Retrieved online from – Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders; Vol. 1-7.
Kremien, M., Travers, J., et al. (2017). Suspension Rates of Students with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities in Maryland from 2004-2015; Journal of Intellectual Disability Research; V61:11, p1011-1020.
Williams, J. (2010). Autism Hits Hard In Communities of Color; New York Amsterdam News; V101:18, p29.
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