An Expert Discussion on Structural Racism in Autism Research and Practice

Abstract

Autism research has a race problem. Despite improvements in screening and diagnosis, autism continues to be underdiagnosed in Black and Hispanic children , and those who obtain a diagnosis often have limited access to support services. Racial disparities persist during the transition to adulthood, with autistic adults from racial and ethnic minority groups experiencing a number of challenges, including lower rates of employment, social participation, and postsecondary education compared to White autistic adults. While these studies highlight the important intersection between race, ethnicity and autism, people of color remain consistently under-represented in autism research , and dialogues regarding the impact of racial and ethnic discrimination on autistic people of color have been limited.