In the United States, cultural minorities with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are diagnosed less frequently and later in life than are White Americans. Furthermore, cultural minorities, compared to White Americans, are less likely to receive evidence-based interventions, and they often start receiving treatment at later ages. These health disparities underscore the influence of cultural variables in ASD, which are often overlooked in the existing literature. In this article, we review the current literature to highlight how cultural variables may exacerbate minority health disparities in the assessment and treatment of ASD. To illustrate these issues, we provide a composite case example and conclude by offering action steps for working with cultural minority families with ASD. As cultural factors are more thoroughly understood and researched, more effective assessment and treatment practices can be designed for culturally diverse children with ASD and their families.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.