Ethnic Disproportionality in School-Based Identification of Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A National Longitudinal Study Ages 5–11

• In Event: Autism and Intersectionality: Varying Perspectives in Research

Abstract

National administrative data from England were used to conduct the first longitudinal analysis of school-based identification of ASD among 550,000 pupils followed from entry to school at age 5 to age 11. Survival analysis produced Hazard Ratios (HRs) for time to first identification of ASD, controlling for pupils’ sex, socio-economic status and prior attainment and social-emotional development at age 5. There was substantial under-representation of pupils of Asian heritage, with HR’s around half those of White British pupils. Being a boy, of low SES and having a low score on the Personal, Social and Emotional Development scale were associated with higher identification of ASD, but did not explain the ethnic under-representation. Language and cultural factors and implications for policy are discussed.

Authors

• Steve Strand, University of Oxford

• Ariel Mariah Lindorff, University of Oxford