Eastern Standard Time
10:00 10:05 am
Welcome and introduction
Dr. Jan Blacher, Distinguished Research Professor University of California, Riverside, School of Education University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology
10:05 – 10:15 am
10:15 – 10:20 am Q&A
Early identification and access to services of children with ASD in Latin American countries
Dr Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Science, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, US
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cecilia-Montiel-Nava
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder that affects children and families in several ways. A growing body of research has documented the ways in which racial and ethnic disparities affect the rate of identification, access and use of services, and relationship with professionals making the diagnoses. In general, Latino children are diagnosed with ASD later in life; usually with more severe symptoms, lower IQs, and more health conditions, compared with non-Latino children. Furthermore, cultural factors can shape how the signs of ASD are conceptualized and how families accept a positive diagnosis, especially how they are affected by stigma. In Latin American countries, regardless of the age group, a large proportion of autistic individuals do not receive any type of treatment, and those receiving treatment get fewer hours than best practice recommendations. For adolescents and adults, the gaps in treatment are even greater and less consistent. I will present current research in health disparities in both early identification and access to services of Latin American children with ASD. Research with this underserved population contributes to enhancing diagnosis and identification methods and assessing the unidentified risk factors and barriers to accessing services, hence improving their outcomes.
10:20 – 10:30 am
10:30 – 10:35 am Q&A
Disparities in Diagnosis and Service Access for Minority Children with ASD in the United States
Dr Waganesh Zeleke, Associate Professor, School of Education, Department of Counseling, Psychology and Special Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, US
https://www.duq.edu/academics/faculty/waganesh-zeleke
Based on the study that examined the data from the 2011 Survey of Pathway to Diagnosis and Services national data set (n = 1715), this presentation aims to discuss factors that moderate the disparity in health care access and utilization among children with ASD from minority families. Research shows that minority parents were less likely to contact a doctor or health care professionals about their concerns, waiting years, rather than months as described by white families, to have the child evaluated. Similar types of care (e.g., conducting developmental tests, making a referral to a specialist) are provided to children with ASD regardless of their background. However, disparity is observed on the level of parental engagement in the diagnostic process and subsequently visit of service providers. This presentation also focuses on providing some suggestions on multicultural and contextually responsive approach that service providers can utilize to reduce the existed disparity in the healthcare industry.
10:35 – 10:45 am
10:45 – 10:50 am Q&A
Challenges and Opportunities for Autism-Inclusive Education in Refugee & Conflict-Affected Communities
Melissa Diamond, Founder and Executive Director, A Global Voice for Autism
https://www.globalvoiceforautism.org/our-team
There are an estimated 93 million children with disabilities in the world today, more than half of whom are out of school. Those numbers are even more pronounced in refugee and conflict-affected communities, where limited resources, security and stigma pose barriers to education and community participation for this population and their families. A Global Voice for Autism is committed to building the capacities of conflict-affected and refugee communities to support and include children with autism and developmental disabilities in their classrooms, homes and communities. Through an analysis of the challenges and opportunities of this work and the organization’s innovations during a global pandemic, this talk aims to start a conversation on how we can best promote and support disability inclusion in limited resource humanitarian response settings.
10:50 – 11:30 am
Discussion panel including autistic people, parents/carers/family members and service providers working with families living with ASD
11:30 am
Thank you and close
The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) is the first and only world-wide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.
Founded in 1964 as the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency, IASSIDD is an international, interdisciplinary and scientific non-governmental organization which promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities.
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