1 - (SYM 82) Factors Predicting Access to Autism Services Among Ethnoracial Minority Families – the Impact of Autism Stigma and Knowledge

Autistic children from ethnoracial minority groups are less likely to have access to services compared to White autistic children (Smith et al., 2020). Several familial, cultural and structural barriers, including stigma, can hinder access to care in ethnoracial minority families (de Leeuw et al., 2020; Papoudi et al., 2021). However, the relationship of autism stigma and knowledge to these barriers has yet to be considered across ethnic groups. Considering the mediating effects of autism stigma, autism knowledge, and unmet needs on the relationship between autistic traits and access to care may provide insight into how to better engage families of autistic children, including those from ethnoracial minority groups in evidence-based care.

Seventy-three parents of autistic youth (M_age=11.4, SD_age=4.6; 80.8% male; 82.2% non-White) completed measures about their child’s autistic traits (Constantino & Gruber, 2012), their family’s needs (Bailey & Simeonsson, 1990), experiences navigating systems of care (Jafarabadi et al., 2021), and their own knowledge and stigma about autism (Harrison et al., 2017).

Autistic traits correlated negatively with autism stigma and access to services (r < -.26; p < .03) and positively with unmet needs (r = .24; p = .05). Both total and unmet needs related to access to services (r < -.27; p < .04). Path analysis revealed a significant direct effect of autism stigma (ß = -.32, p < 0.05) and unmet needs (ß = -.41, p = 0.001) on access to services, as well as autism severity on autism stigma (ß = -.32, p = 0.003) and access to services (ß = -.27, p = -.02). Approximately 39% of the variance in access to services is collectively explained by autism knowledge, autism stigma, total unmet needs, and autistic traits. The mediation of autism stigma, autism knowledge, and unmet needs in the relationship between autism severity and access to services were not significant (all ps > .05).

Autism stigma in a racially diverse sample seems to directly impacts families’ access to services such that stigma can be interpreted as a cultural barrier to care. Furthermore, the cumulative effects of multiple factors (autistic traits, autism stigma, unmet needs, lack of autism knowledge) appear to impact service use. results have clinical implications as they suggest that intervening to disrupt parents’ autism stigma or increase their autism knowledge may increase access to services. As such, it is imperative that clinicians seek out opportunities to educate their communities and reduce stigma in order to advocate for more services for those most in need.