Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from the African American parents’ perspective

The purpose of this study was to attempt to understand the ASD diagnosis of an African American child by sharing the voices of parents that have navigated the diagnosis process. The following research questions framed the study: how do African American parents describe their experiences related to obtaining a diagnosis for their child with an ASD and I n what ways do these experiences help to explain factors that affect ASD diagnosis for African American children? Twelve African American parents participated in this instrumental case study that utilized interviews, a parent needs assessment and a review of archival data. The themes that connected the experiences of those in the sample were the conviction that there was something not right, the drive to learn more about ASD, the desire to put the child first, and an understanding of how difficult ASD is for the African American community. The findings highlighted the impact of access to healthcare, quality evaluations, and the impact of the parent. Through analyzing the experiences of African American parents with a child with ASD the data provides previously unrecorded access into the journey from the vantage point of parents.