Autism Is Black Too! Intersectional Experiences With Service Provision for Black Autistic Individuals and Their Families

Abstract

We aimed to address a gap in the literature surrounding the experiences of Black autistic individuals and their families, specific to their engagement in the diagnostic process and service provision broadly. Our study was theoretically oriented in critical theories, as we aimed to push back against the dominant narrative about autism. We used qualitative methods and conducted interviews with Black autistic people (n = 2) and parents of Black autistic people (n = 9) to learn about their experiences. We employed an inductive approach to interpretation of data and used MAXQDA to engage in analysis. Results demonstrated that participants experienced several barriers to receiving care that are not only driven by the intersection of race and disability, as marginalization given gender, income, and location also surfaced as factors that have made access to services difficult. In the midst of these difficulties, participants also reflected on ways they found support and community and how they learned to be resilient. Implications for future research and practice are discussed, with specific attention paid to policy implications that may inform future practice.