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ERIC Number: EJ1443206
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Oct
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Workforce Perspective on Racial and Ethnic Equity in Early Childhood Autism Evaluation and Treatment: "The Cornerstone of Everything We Do"
A. Buck; S. Hurewitz; M. Scotton Franklin
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v28 n10 p2598-2611 2024
Black and non-White Latinx children have historically been diagnosed with autism at a later age and with more significant impairments than White peers. This study aimed to gather insights from members of the autism service provider workforce on current barriers and facilitators to achieving equity in early childhood autism evaluation, referrals, and treatment. We employed a qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured virtual focus groups with autism experts in North Carolina (N = 26). Our final sample included pediatric clinicians across disciplines, researchers, family/caregiver advocates, and policymakers/government representatives. We identified four overarching themes representing challenges to equitable autism service provision: (1) workforce composition and recruitment concerns, (2) workforce capacity and accessibility concerns, (3) workforce compensation obstacles, and (4) COVID-19 pandemic adaptations' impact. Our findings demonstrate the need for improved workforce diversity, autism-specific education, adequate compensation, and interventions to address burnout. To remediate existing barriers to equity, diversity in recruitment across training levels, cultural awareness, autism education for all pediatric providers, and partnerships with caregivers as experts must be prioritized. These investments in the autism workforce will allow its interdisciplinary professionals to better meet the needs of children and families from historically marginalized communities and achieve equitable early childhood service provision.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A