Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

Welcome to the xMinds' Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Outreach. The BIPOC Program Team strives to provide Montgomery County families of color better access to important resources.

The BIPOC Outreach Program Team was formed in recognition of racial disparities among members of the autistic community, which have been caused by historical and institutional practices. This team seeks to both cultivate additional resources related to the educational outcomes of BIPOC students and to increase access by families of color, including Spanish-speaking families, to xMinds resources and programming.

The committee hosts the monthly People of the Global Majority virtual discussion group, geared toward MoCo parents/guardians of BIPOC students. This monthly online meetup offers a wonderful opportunity to find resources, make connections, and share successes. The group meets the first Monday of every month, 7- 7:45 p.m., on a drop-in basis. New participants are always welcome! Register here to receive the Zoom link.

Please note that inclusion of any organizations or resources on this page does not constitute an endorsement by xMinds.

Under-Identification and Delayed Diagnosis

Historically, a lower prevalence of autism has been shown among the BIPOC population. Researchers have long suspected that this is due to disparities in identification, rather than true differences in prevalence.

Recent data shows a nearly identical prevalence of autism in Black and white children. According to a 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1.85 percent of white eight-year-olds in 2016 were diagnosed with autism, compared to 1.83 percent of Black children. This is the first time that the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network data found no overall difference.
Prevalence still lags in the Hispanic community, with 1.54 percent of Hispanic eight-year-olds diagnosed with ASD in 2016. The CDC notes that stigma, lack of access to healthcare services, and non-English primary language are potential barriers to identification of children with ASD.
Research indicates a delay in diagnosis in the BIPOC community among children who also have intellectual disabilities. White children with ASD and ID had a median age of diagnosis of 42 months, compared to 48 months for Black children and 44 months for Hispanic children, according to the CDC. This delay limits opportunities to receive essential services in a critical timeframe.

A recent study, examining CDC data, found that as many as one in four children who have documented signs and symptoms consistent with autism spectrum disorder are currently undiagnosed, and those undiagnosed children are more likely to be children of color.

Disparities in Discipline

Special needs students in the BIPOC community have elevated suspension and seclusion rates.

Nearly 1 in 4 Black and multiracial boys with disabilities are suspended in a single year, according to a 2018 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office based on 2013–14. About 1 in 5 Native Americans with a disability are suspended in a year.
Black and Hispanic students accounted for roughly 80% of all suspensions at Montgomery County Public School in 2018–2019. About one-third of overall suspensions in MCPS are special education students.
94 percent of the incidents of seclusion reported within MCPS in 2017–18 involved students with an IEP. African American students accounted for 65 percent of the total incidents of seclusion in MCPS.

Local Resources

Activities

Elite Soccer Youth Development Academy (ESYDA) offers both recreational and competitive soccer programs to beginners through advanced skill levels.

YMCA Adaptive Swim. Swim lessons are adapted for children with disabilities.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) pairs trained volunteers with a young person with disabilities for free, non-competitive one-to-one programs of exercise, fitness, and fun.

Financial Resources

The Arc Montgomery County directly supports over 500 children, youth, adults, and families by providing child care, work skills training, employment opportunities, community living services, resources, advocacy, and respite care.
Low Intensity Support Services uses an automated system called the Random Selection Process to select individuals who may be eligible for funding, granting up to $2,000 for services and items to address their needs.
My Turn, Montgomery County Health and Human Services, provides short term or one time only financial assistance to caregivers of children with developmental disabilities and assists caregivers with accessing information, linking to other community resources and designing individual support services.

Support Organizations

People of the Global Majority virtual discussion group, hosted by the xMinds BIPOC Outreach Committee. Geared toward MoCo parents/guardians of BIPOC students, this monthly online meetup offers a wonderful opportunity to find resources, make connections, and share successes. The group meets the first Monday of every month, 7:00 – 7:45 PM, on a drop-in basis. New participants are always welcome! Register here to receive the Zoom link.

DC Autism Parents (DCAP) connects DC families to much-needed resources to support early autism diagnosis and navigation throughout the lifespan, and provides a monthly support group to DC parents of autistic children.

Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence advocates on behalf of Black, Brown, and low-income students in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Identity creates opportunities for Latino and other historically underserved youth in Montgomery County to realize their highest potential and thrive.

Social Media

Black Autism Moms (B.A.M.S) (Private Facebook Group) offers a safe space for black moms with children on the autism spectrum to come together to celebrate, encourage, and sometimes vent about their journeys.
Black Mothers of Children with Autism (Private Facebook Group) provides a place for questions and resources, answers and support, for Black mothers of autistic children.
Black Parents of Children with Autism and Other Disabilities (Private Facebook Group) is a supportive forum to discuss the concerns of raising black/colored children with autism and other disabilities.
Latinas United in Love for Autism is an emotional support group for Latinas with children on the spectrum.

Organizations

Autism in Black provides support to Black parents who have a child on the spectrum, through educational and advocacy services. Sponsors the Autism in Black podcast.
The Color of Autism is a nonprofit organization committed to educating and assisting people of color with autistic children.

Advocacy and Facilitation

Advocating 4 Kids Inc is a non-profit organization that provides training, resources and direct advocacy support to parents of children with disabilities, with a special focus on outreach to minority and/or lower social economic status families.
Free Special Education Advocacy Advice is available to parents in Montgomery County, including assistance from xMinds, Parents Place of Maryland, and Disability Rights Maryland. These services are available in Spanish and English.
Special Education Excellence for Underserved Students (SEEUS) provides no-cost, expert, special education advocacy to Black students with special needs whose education has been impacted by systemic racism.

Additional Resources

Advocacy Resources/Books recommended by members of the xMinds community
xMinds Guide to Navigating Special Education provides information on Individualized Education Programs, accommodations, and special education terms.

Articles

Under-Identification/Delayed Diagnosis

Hechinger Report cites two studies finding black students are under-identified for disabilities at school (2019)

Oral Test Successfully Screens Latino Toddlers for Autism

Timing of the Diagnosis of Autism in African American Children

U.S. Autism Prevalence in Black Children Based on Few Families (2019)

Disparities in Discipline

Discipline Disparities (School Discipline Support Initiative)

5 Things to Know about Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Special Education (2017)

Webinars and Videos

Navigating Cultural Bias With a Child on the Autism Spectrum: An xMinds webinar exploring racial and cultural biases and resulting disparities in autism diagnosis and treatment experienced by families of color

Racial Justice in Special Education: A panel discussion on the challenges families of color experience in the public special education system, including disproportionality in identification of disabilities, in educational placements, and in use of disciplinary actions. Hosted by xMinds.
Actress Holly Robinson Peete talks autism in the Black community
Autism in Black's Maria Davis-Pierre on ASD, Stigma, Cultural Impact, and the Black Community

Partnership for Extraordinary Minds

P.O. Box 231
Kensington, MD 20895
301-444-5225
info@xminds.org