According to a recent CT Mirror article, autistic children living in low-income areas face challenges in getting a diagnosis or treatment.
A panel of autism spectrum disorder experts met in June at the University of Saint Joseph to discuss inequities in autism awareness, diagnosis, and treatment in low-income communities.
Panelists noted that many children experience delayed diagnosis of the disorder, particularly African-American and Latino children living in low-income communities. According to Autism Speaks’ Jamitha Fields, autism can be reliably diagnosed at age two. However, the average age of diagnosis is four and a half years old, rising to six years old for Latinos. Panelists attribute these disparities to several factors, including access to medical care, lack of education, cultural differences, and financial issues.
