Short report: Call to action for autism clinicians in response to anti-Black racism

Autism. 2022 May;26(4):988-994. doi: 10.1177/13623613211043643. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

Abstract

Black autistic people experience anti-Black racism when interacting with service systems and the clinicians in those systems. In this article, we describe the various steps families take to get services and how anti-Black racism makes that process even harder. We discuss research that shows the negative effects of anti-Black racism in autism assessment, treatment, and quality of care. We then provide five recommendations that clinicians should follow to reduce anti-Black racism in the autism field: (1) find Black autistic people and listen to their opinions about your organization, (2) always keep learning about how your profession promotes anti-Black racism, (3) recognize that the process of a clinician learning to be culturally humble takes time and is never "complete," (4) pay attention to all of the steps that families must take to receive autism services and how these steps are even harder for Black individuals, and (5) advocate for your organization to make systems-level changes in their policies and procedures.

Keywords: Black autistic community; racism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / ethnology*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder / ethnology
  • Autistic Disorder / therapy
  • Humans
  • Racism* / prevention & control