Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Mar 20;17(4):1019-1034.
doi: 10.1007/s40653-024-00624-7. eCollection 2024 Dec.

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

Amber M Davis  1   2 , Emma Smith  3 , Xuhao Yang  4 , Rebecca Wright  1
Affiliations

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

Amber M Davis et al. J Child Adolesc Trauma. .

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.

Keywords: Ableism; Black autistic adults; Discrimination; Intersectionality; Perception of the future; Racism.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Alverson, C. Y., Lindstrom, L. E., & Hirano, K. A. (2019). High School to College: Transition Experiences of Young Adults With Autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities,34(1), 52–64.
    1. Anderson, C., Butt, C., & Sarsony, C. (2021). Young adults on the autism spectrum and early employment-related experiences: Aspirations and obstacles. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,51(1), 88–105. - PubMed
    1. Anderson, K. A., Hemmeter, J., Rast, J. E., Roux, A. M., & Shattuck, P. T. (2020). Trends in supplemental security income payments to adults with autism. Psychiatric Services,71(6), 602–607. - PubMed
    1. Armstrong, J., Carlos Chavez, F. L., Jones, J. H., Harris, S. D., & Harris, G. J. (2019). “A Dream Deferred”: How Discrimination Impacts the American Dream Achievement for African Americans. Journal of Black Studies,50(3), 227–250.
    1. Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist,55, 469–480. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources