Join the College of Education for the Dean's Lecture Series: Jason Travers, PhD, BCBA-D. Dr. Travers will speak about the disproportionate representation of racially diverse children with autism in special education.
Children with autism are entitled to special education and related services that improve their quality of life and lead to desired outcomes. Despite evidence that autism does not affect children based on race or ethnicity, special education data indicates racially diverse children are less likely to be eligible for special education than their white counterparts. This presentation will overview a series of research studies that show a growing racial disparity at national and state levels, with Hispanic/Latinx students being least likely to receive an autism eligibility determination. Underrepresentation of racially diverse students in this category may reflect a systemic bias against access to evidence-based interventions and supports for students with autism.