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Exploring Racial Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, and Perception of the Future Among Black-Identifying Emerging Adults with and without Autism in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive Study

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Abstract

Discrimination experienced by Black emerging adults with autism is rarely studied nor have their experiences been juxtaposed to Black emerging adults without autism. A mixed methods descriptive approach was used to describe responses to open-ended questions collected as part of a larger study of discrimination experienced by Black emerging adults with autism (n = 14) and Black emerging adults without autism (n = 20). Questions focused around racial discrimination, disability discrimination, and perception of the future. Qualitative and quantitative content analysis were applied. Qualitatively- a manifest approach was used, and quantitatively- frequency counts and ratios were identified within themes and subthemes. Four main themes and twelve subthemes were identified. Racial discrimination had two themes: 1) Impact on mental health, and 2) Societal threats, with five subthemes, each reported at higher rates by people without autism (Theme 1 = 5:7, Theme 2 = 3:11). Disability discrimination was only reported on by those with autism, and had one main theme of neurodiverse/autism bias, and three subthemes. Perception of the future contained the theme of emerging life hopes, with four subthemes. Subthemes relating to work/career/family and future unknown were reported more highly by those without autism than with autism (1:8 and 4:7 respectively), while subthemes describing diverse or unique priorities for fulfillment and mental wellness were reported only by those with autism (6:0 and 4:0 respectively). Study findings suggest unique experiences and needs among Black emerging adults with autism, as well as the consequences of anti-blackness and anti-ableism/neurobigotry which can have double impact in their lives, spanning different ages and stages. Results have implications for building resiliency among Black persons with autism and without autism as they transition to adulthood.

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Notes

  1. Person-first language is utilized commonly in this paper for sensitivity however identity first language is also utilized. The use of both terms is acknowledges that there is diversity within the neurodiverse population with respect to identity-first (‘person with autism’) or person-first language (‘autistic person’) preference.

  2. Autism Spectrum Disorder/ASD is used interchangeably with the term ‘autism’ in this paper.

  3. We acknowledge that due to the process of racialization, Black and African American can be viewed as interrelated, overlapping or seperate terminology. We use these terms interchangeably throughout our paper as participants were asked if they were Black or African American in order to participate in the study and in recognition that there is variance in which term is preferred throughout the U.S.

  4. ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder; non-ASD = non-Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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Funding

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, T32-HD 094687 (PI: Campbell), Amber Davis, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, National Institute of Mental Health, T-32 MH073124, Amber Davis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 524 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Amber M. Davis & Rebecca Wright

  2. Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Amber M. Davis

  3. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Office for Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Xuhao Yang

  4. Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Emma Smith

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  1. Amber M. Davis
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  2. Emma Smith
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  3. Xuhao Yang
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  4. Rebecca Wright
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Correspondence to Amber M. Davis.

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Davis, A.M., Smith, E., Yang, X. et al. Exploring Racial Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, and Perception of the Future Among Black-Identifying Emerging Adults with and without Autism in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive Study. Journ Child Adol Trauma (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00624-7

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